by F1 correspondent Michael Butterworth
SEPANG, Malaysia, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Max Verstappen claimed his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season in a rain-hit Bahrain Grand Prix at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit on Sunday, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli took a major step toward his maiden world title after Mercedes teammate George Russell retired late in the race.
Verstappen, who started from pole position, recovered from a poor start to finish 2.3 seconds ahead of Antonelli, securing Red Bull's first victory with its own power unit. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton completed the podium after a remarkable recovery from a disastrous early tyre gamble.
The race, relocated from Bahrain to Malaysia because of unrest in the Middle East, was delayed by more than 90 minutes following torrential rain and a series of technical problems during the formation laps.
The conditions also represented unfamiliar territory for the entire field, with the race marking the first time the new generation of F1 cars had been driven in significantly wet conditions. Introduced at the start of 2026 under sweeping new technical regulations, the cars had previously encountered little opportunity for teams and drivers to assess their behavior in sustained heavy rain.
Several cars, including Verstappen and Hamilton, slowed dramatically during the formation procedure, apparently because of a software issue caused by low-speed running in wet conditions. The resulting confusion over the starting order raised questions about race control's handling of an unprecedented situation.
When racing finally began, both front-row starters lost ground. Mercedes pair Antonelli and Russell swept into first and second, while Verstappen initially struggled to capitalize on his pole position.
Hamilton's afternoon appeared ruined almost immediately. The seven-time world champion, along with teammate Charles Leclerc and the two McLarens, gambled on starting on soft slick tyres despite the circuit remaining wet, while the Mercedes and Red Bull pair started on intermediates.
The decision proved costly, with Hamilton and the other slick-shod drivers tumbling down the order and losing almost a minute to the leaders in the opening laps.
Verstappen, meanwhile, recovered to challenge the Mercedes drivers and eventually overtook Antonelli following a safety car period, establishing control of the race as conditions improved.
The Dutchman's victory came after he had won the previous F1 race at Sepang in 2017, before the Malaysian Grand Prix disappeared from the calendar.
"It's a really nice one after the year that we've had and the progression that we've made," Verstappen said. "I'm incredibly proud of everyone."
Hamilton's fortunes improved as the circuit dried. Having remained on slick tyres, he steadily recovered through the field before a late safety car allowed him to switch back to soft tyres.
He subsequently overtook Red Bull's Isack Hadjar for third with three laps remaining, completing an unlikely podium finish.
The decisive championship development came when Russell, running third, suffered a suspected power unit failure five laps from the finish. His retirement allowed Antonelli to extend his championship lead from 66 to 84 points, dealing a potentially decisive blow to his teammate's title ambitions.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished fourth ahead of Hadjar, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri sixth and Liam Lawson seventh for Racing Bulls.
Fernando Alonso scored his and Aston Martin's best result of the season with eighth, ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris and Lawson's teammate Arvid Lindblad.
Verstappen's victory underlined Red Bull's recent resurgence following a difficult start to the season, with the team's latest aerodynamic upgrades having delivered a significant improvement in performance.
The Dutchman is the sixth different Grand Prix winner so far in 2026, with Red Bull the fourth different team to have tasted victory this year.
The next round of the 2026 Formula 1 season is the Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on October 12. ■
