Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix held in Sepang, Malaysia, on October 4.
The race, whose start was delayed by torrential rain, saw tire choices and the safety car change the flow several times.
The victory was Verstappen’s first Grand Prix win of the season, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished 2nd.
3-Line Summary
1. Verstappen claimed his first win of the season in Sepang
2. Antonelli finished 2nd, and Hamilton was 3rd
3. Strategic choices amid torrential rain determined the order
A Rain-Delayed Start and a Long Day in Sepang
At the Sepang Circuit near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, light rain during the start procedure turned into tropical downpours accompanied by lightning. The start of the race was delayed after standing water was found on parts of the track. The event was held in Malaysia as an exception because of the situation surrounding the conflict in the Middle East, and it was the first time an F1 race had been held in Sepang since 2017.
The race did not settle down even after the rain stopped. It was the first race in which the 2026-spec cars under the new regulations faced full wet-weather conditions, and tire choice and car control became important as track grip remained low. Restrictions adapted to wet conditions also applied to the use of auxiliary power and aerodynamic devices.
Lead Held Even After the Safety Car
Verstappen quickly opened a gap to Antonelli after the safety-car restart and crossed the finish line leading the 55-lap race. According to The Guardian’s report, this was Red Bull’s first Grand Prix win of the season.
Mercedes’ Antonelli finished 2nd, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was 3rd. Hamilton and Ferrari’s early tire judgment did not go as planned, but they moved up the order in the latter stages of the race to reach the podium. For Red Bull’s Verstappen, it was a victory that came after difficulties accumulated over the season, while Antonelli continued to post front-running results even though he missed out on the win.
Russell’s Retirement and the Remaining Review
Mercedes’ George Russell retired in the latter part of the race. It was an important moment both in the battle for victory and in the championship chase, but Russell’s race did not continue to the end. Lando Norris went onto the gravel while responding to the cars ahead slowing under the safety-car conditions, after which the order changed.
However, reports emerged that Alex Albon and Norris’ driving were under review after the finish. Therefore, the final classification at the time of those reports could still have changed. The key point of the day was not simply that it was a rainy race, but that the choices extending from the delayed start through the restart created Red Bull’s first win of the season.
References
Tags #F1 #FormulaOne #MaxVerstappen #RedBull #KimiAntonelli #LewisHamilton #GeorgeRussell #BahrainGrandPrix #MalaysiaGP #SepangCircuit #F1Results #F1Win