Max Verstappen finally has his first win of the 2026 season. It came on a wet, messy Sunday at Sepang, and it was anything but easy. Here is a simple look at what happened, why the race was in Malaysia, and what it means for the title fight in f1.
The Short Version
Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix on 4 October 2026 after a day of heavy rain, delays and confusion. Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes finished second. Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari took third. Verstappen’s team mate Isack Hadjar and Mercedes driver George Russell both had a day to forget in different ways.
It was Verstappen’s first victory of the season. Sky Sports described it as the 72nd win of his career. He has now won at least one race in every season since 2016, and that streak is still alive.
If you only follow f1 casually, the key point is simple. The best driver on the day handled a very strange race better than everyone else.
Why Is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
This part confuses many fans, so let us make it easy to follow.
The Bahrain Grand Prix was first planned for 12 April 2026 at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. In March, Formula 1 and the FIA announced that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races could not go ahead in April. The reason was the security situation in the Middle East.
No replacement race was arranged for April. Then on 26 July, an agreement was announced. The Bahrain Grand Prix would take place at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia from 2 to 4 October. The deal involved Formula 1, the FIA and the governments of both countries.
The race kept the Bahrain name. Reports say the organisers from Bahrain helped fund the event and supported the weekend, while Sepang provided the track and worked on running the race. The slot on the calendar sat between the Azerbaijan and Singapore rounds. It was also the first time f1 had raced at Sepang since 2017.
For more on the sport and its calendar, the official Formula 1 website is a good place to check.
Qualifying Set the Scene
Verstappen took his first pole position of 2026 on Saturday. His best lap was 1:35.130. That was just 0.298 seconds quicker than Hamilton, who lined up second.
Penalties then changed the order. Hadjar, who had set the third best time, reportedly took a five place grid drop. That pushed championship leader Antonelli up to third on the grid. Russell started seventh.
So the stage looked good for Verstappen. Pole, a clear weekend pace and a chance to end the wait. But Sepang had other plans.
Rain Turns Race Day Upside Down
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit the circuit before the start. Standing water made the track unsafe, so race control delayed the start while the storm passed and the drainage worked.
Reports differ on how long the delay lasted. Some outlets say the start was held back by around 40 minutes. Reuters, as quoted by one news site, said the delay was more than 90 minutes in total. The simple truth is that it was a long wait for fans and teams.
For readers in South Africa, the race was due to begin at about 9am local time. It finally got going around 10:40am, according to Polish outlet Interia Sport, which gave the schedule in Polish time. That is the same clock as South Africa during this part of the year.
Chaos Before the Lights Even Went Out
The drama began behind the safety car. Drivers did a pair of formation laps, with a standing start planned. But problems with power unit software caused trouble.
Reports say Verstappen’s and Hamilton’s cars had acceleration problems during those laps, and both drivers stepped out of their cars at one stage. Hadjar went off the track. Hamilton dropped to the back of the field.
One report said the weekend exposed weaknesses in the current f1 rules. It said the cars struggled badly in wet weather. That is a strong view, but it fits what fans saw on the day. The cars looked hard to manage in the wet.
Even with all that, there was another twist. Reuters reported that Verstappen lost the lead before the first corner. Race winners rarely have an easy afternoon, and this one had to fight back.
Verstappen and Antonelli Trade Blows
The battle for the win came down to Verstappen and Antonelli. The two swapped the lead during the pit stops. Verstappen came in for fresh soft tyres, which briefly gave Antonelli the lead. Then the Mercedes driver stopped as well.
At the restart, Verstappen swept around Antonelli through the opening corners to take the lead back. When racing resumed on lap 52, the order was Verstappen, Antonelli, Hadjar, Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen then held his nerve. He kept Antonelli behind until the flag and crossed the line 2.307 seconds clear. Sky Sports said he made no mistakes on the last lap.
Hamilton Fights Back to the Podium
Hamilton had a rough start after falling to the back during the formation laps. But he recovered well, and the result shows it. He finished third, about 4.9 seconds behind Verstappen according to one report.
Sky Sports described his charge as a surge back through the field. For a driver who started the day on the front row and then lost so many places, that is a fine rescue. It is also a good reminder that rain races reward patience.
Russell’s Late Heartbreak
George Russell looked set for a podium. Then a suspected power unit issue behind the late safety car ended his race.
That one moment had a big effect on the standings. Russell had been the closest challenger to his team mate Antonelli in the title race. Had he finished third, he would have gained points on Antonelli. Instead, Antonelli left Malaysia with an 84 point lead at the top of the championship, according to RacingNews365. Sky Sports reported the same gap.
An 84 point lead is big. It does not end the title fight, but it makes life very hard for everyone chasing.
Top Three at a Glance
| Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
One report said Fernando Alonso held off Lando Norris to take eighth place. One race note also said the official classification was still pending when it was updated, so small details may change. The podium order, though, has been reported the same way by several outlets.
What This Win Means
Red Bull had been waiting for a win. One report said the team’s wait was over, and another said Verstappen had not won since last year’s season ending race in Abu Dhabi. For a driver of his level, a gap like that feels long.
For Verstappen, the win keeps his yearly winning streak going. That is a simple way to see how consistent he has been across ten seasons.
For Antonelli, second place was a strong result on a day when many things could have gone wrong. His title lead grew rather than shrank, and that is the main story for the championship.
For Hamilton, third place shows he can still fight from the back in tricky conditions.
For the sport, the day raised questions about wet weather running and software reliability. These are not new worries, but Sepang gave them fresh attention. Fans who want the official rules and updates can read the FIA website.
What South African Fans Can Take From It
If you watch f1 on a Sunday morning in South Africa, this race was a good reminder of why we love the sport. A slow start, a delay and plenty of drama made for a long morning. But the result was clear in the end.
Here is an easy way to remember the key points:
- Verstappen won his first race of 2026.
- Antonelli was second and leads the title race by 84 points.
- Hamilton was third after a tough start.
- Russell retired late with a suspected power unit issue.
- The race was held at Sepang because the Bahrain event could not go ahead in the Middle East.
Final Thoughts
This was one of the wildest races of the year. Rain, delays, odd formation laps and a late safety car all played a part. Through it all, Verstappen stayed calm and picked his moment.
The title fight still looks tilted towards Antonelli. But with so much chaos in a single race, no one in f1 can feel fully safe. Keep an eye on the next round, because this season is far from simple to predict.
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