A first win of 2026 for Red Bull, a late retirement for Russell, and a bigger championship cushion for Antonelli.
Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton. Rain delayed the start at Sepang and made the switch from intermediate tyres to slicks a defining decision.
Verstappen recovered after losing ground at the start, then managed the closing restart to secure his and Red Bull’s first victory of the season. George Russell retired late, while Ferrari recovered to third and fourth.
The championship consequence: Antonelli’s advantage over Russell grows to 84 points with seven rounds remaining. Singapore is next.
Source published: 04 October 2026, 10:38 UTC