Verstappen wins rain-delayed Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang; Abu Dhabi round confirmed
In short
Max Verstappen won the rain-delayed Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on Sunday, his first victory of the 2026 season. Kimi Antonelli finished second to extend his championship lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell to 84 points with seven races left, after Russell retired with five laps to go, while Lewis Hamilton recovered from 18th to finish third. Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali said the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix are confirmed to go ahead, with 99% of Abu Dhabi tickets sold.
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Max Verstappen won the rain-delayed Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on Sunday, his first victory of the 2026 season and, according to Gulf News, Red Bull’s first with its own powertrain. The National reported that the race had been rescheduled from April and moved to Malaysia because of the continuing conflict in the Middle East. [ 1 , 2 ]
The start was held up by heavy rain and confusion over the grid order. Gulf News said the race began about 1 hour 40 minutes late on a second attempt, while The National said it was held up by more than 90 minutes. After an aborted safety-car start, Verstappen lost the lead before Turn 1 but fought back, and Gulf News said he took a lead he would not relinquish after a safety car brought on by Valtteri Bottas spinning into the gravel on lap nine. He finished less than two and a half seconds ahead of Kimi Antonelli, according to The National. [ 1 , 2 ]
Antonelli’s second place extended his championship lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell to 84 points with seven races remaining. Russell stopped trackside with a power unit failure with five laps to go, a retirement The National said likely ends his hopes of winning the drivers’ title. Lewis Hamilton recovered from a start that dropped him to 18th to finish third, with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc fourth and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar fifth. [ 1 , 2 ]
“It is a really nice one after the year that we had and the progression that we have made. I am incredibly proud of everyone and it is super nice to win here,” Verstappen said, according to The National. He described a hectic start, saying there was “no power so you have to wait for the power to kick in”. Gulf News reported that the victory was his 72nd, tying Michael Schumacher for the most wins with the same team. [ 1 , 2 ]
Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali said the season-ending Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix would go ahead as planned despite continuing tensions in the Middle East. “Based on the information we have, everything is confirmed for Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” Domenicali told Canal Plus at Sepang, according to Aletihad, repeating the confirmation to Sky Sport Italia. The calendar has Qatar on November 27-29 and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina from December 4-6; Aletihad reported that 99% of Abu Dhabi tickets had been sold and that Imola is on standby if the need arises. [ 3 ]
Verstappen had said on the eve of the race, according to Aletihad, that he is normally happy to go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi but that “when there is a war nearby, and if some of the countries are in conflict with each other, then I think we shouldn’t go”, adding that it is not up to him. Formula One had earlier indicated that a decision would be made around October 4 or by mid-October. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The result reshapes the drivers’ title race: The National said Russell’s retirement likely ends his hopes of catching Antonelli with seven races remaining. The confirmation that Qatar and Abu Dhabi will host the season-ending rounds matters to the UAE as host of the finale, which Formula One said had sold 99% of tickets.
Key facts
- Max Verstappen won the rain-delayed Bahrain Grand Prix, held at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, for his first win of the 2026 season. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The start was held up by rain: Gulf News said it began about 1 hour 40 minutes late, while The National put the delay at more than 90 minutes. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Kimi Antonelli finished second and leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 84 points with seven races to go, after Russell stopped with a power unit failure with five laps left. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Lewis Hamilton finished third after dropping to 18th, with Charles Leclerc fourth and Isack Hadjar fifth. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The race was rescheduled from April and moved from Bahrain to Malaysia because of the continuing conflict in the Middle East. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali said the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix are confirmed to go ahead as planned, and that 99% of Abu Dhabi tickets had been sold. [ 3 ]
- Gulf News reported the win was Verstappen’s 72nd, tying Michael Schumacher for the most wins with the same team, and his second at Sepang. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix, staged at Sepang in Malaysia, his first victory of the 2026 season. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The race was delayed by heavy rain and was interrupted by safety cars after the retirements of Valtteri Bottas and Alex Albon. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Kimi Antonelli finished second and leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 84 points with seven races remaining, after Russell’s car stopped late in the race with a power unit or engine failure. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Lewis Hamilton finished third, Charles Leclerc fourth and Isack Hadjar fifth. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The race was moved from Bahrain to Malaysia because of conflict in the Middle East. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the season-ending Qatar and Abu Dhabi races will definitely be held as scheduled. Domenicali, an official, said they were confirmed, but Verstappen said on the eve of the race that drivers should not go if there is a war nearby, Aletihad reported Imola is on standby, and Formula One had earlier said a decision would come around October 4 or by mid-October.
- That the win was Verstappen’s 72nd, tying Michael Schumacher for the most wins with the same team, and his second win at Sepang. Stated only by Gulf News; no other document gives the win count or the milestone.
- The identity of the driver who finished eighth. Only The National names an eighth-place finisher, listed as “the Aston Martin of Fernando Norris”; no other document covers the lower placings.
- Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali said the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix are confirmed to go ahead as scheduled. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Gulf News publishes its report on Verstappen’s win, saying the start was about 1 hour 40 minutes late because of rain. [ 1 ]
- The National reports the result, saying the race was held up by more than 90 minutes and that Antonelli now leads Russell by 84 points with seven races to go. [ 2 ]
- Aletihad reports Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali’s confirmation that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix will go ahead as planned. [ 3 ]