Max Verstappen claimed his first Formula 1 victory of the 2026 season on Sunday, winning a rain-hit Bahrain Grand Prix at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit in a dramatic race that featured changing conditions, a delayed start and a late Safety Car period.

The Red Bull driver converted pole position into victory, finishing 2.307 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ championship leader Kimi Antonelli after 55 laps. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton completed the podium after producing a strong recovery drive.

The race was originally scheduled to take place in Bahrain but was relocated to Sepang because of the ongoing regional conflict. The return of Formula 1 to Malaysia for the first time since 2017 was then complicated by torrential rain shortly before the scheduled start.

Standing water on the circuit forced officials to delay the race, with cars eventually starting behind the Safety Car as conditions improved. The wet track created difficult strategic decisions for teams and drivers throughout the race.

Verstappen maintained control despite the changing conditions to secure Red Bull’s first victory of the 2026 season. The result was also the maiden Formula 1 win for Red Bull Ford Powertrains.

Antonelli’s second-place finish strengthened his position at the top of the championship standings, while Mercedes teammate George Russell suffered a major setback after his car stopped during the closing stages.

Hamilton, meanwhile, recovered from an early difficult tyre strategy to finish third for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc crossed the line fourth, followed by Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar.

The chaotic weekend also raised questions about Formula 1’s car software systems after several drivers experienced technical problems before the start. Verstappen said the situation should be treated as a lesson for the sport going forward.

Top three, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sepang:

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

The victory gives Verstappen fresh momentum as the 2026 championship enters its closing stages, while Antonelli leaves Malaysia with an increased advantage in the title battle.