Verstappen wins chaotic rain-delayed Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
- Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli topped final practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on Saturday, setting a 1m36.302s lap to recover from a difficult Friday.
- Red Bull demonstrated consistent pace with Max Verstappen securing second and Isack Hadjar third, placing both drivers inside the top three for the second time this weekend.
- McLaren struggled at Sepang with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finishing seventh and eighth, while Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton secured fifth and sixth respectively.
- A red flag halted the session after debris from Oliver Bearman's Haas broke loose at Turn 10, resuming eight minutes later as teams assessed soft tyre fragility concerns.
- Sepang returns to the Formula 1 calendar for the first time since 2017, hosting the 16th round of the 2026 Championship season on the hot Malaysian surface.
589 Articles
589 Articles
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Max Verstappen washes away frustrations with win at rain-soaked Bahrain Grand Prix
George Russell, who was still alive with an outside chance at catching his Mercedes teammate Antonelli for the drivers' title, saw those hopes take a blow due to an engine failure.
Max Verstappen washes away frustrations with win at Bahrain Grand Prix
BAHRAIN: Max Verstappen flushed away at least some of his seasonlong frustrations Sunday by winning the rain-delayed Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The four-time Formula 1 drivers’ champion earned his first win of 2026 and the 72nd of his decorated career when he waited out a 1-hour, 33-minute delay at the outset and then held off current drivers’ standings leader Kimi Antonelli at the finish. George Russell, who was still alive with an outsi…
This is Verstappen's first victory in 2026, and the result confirms the improvement of the Red Bulls in the last races.
Max Verstappen has finally secured his first victory of the year. The Dutchman won a chaotic race in Malaysia on Sunday, where rain, delays, and strategic errors provided plenty of spectacle. Kimi Antonelli finished second, while Lewis Hamilton surprisingly completed the podium. Who...
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