Max Verstappen won Formula 1’s Bahrain Grand Prix held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on Sunday, securing his first victory of the season; the race featured a delayed start due to heavy rain and software issues before Verstappen finished ahead of Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.
Max Verstappen Takes Victory in Malaysia
The race start faced a 40-minute rain delay followed by a second suspension for software problems during the formation lap, as cbc.ca noted. When the lights eventually went out, Verstappen dropped from pole position to third as Mercedes drivers Antonelli and George Russell took control.
Verstappen retook the lead on Lap 13 following a safety car restart. The win was his 72nd career victory, matching the record held by Michael Schumacher for most wins with a single team.
The win marks Verstappen’s first victory since the final race of last season in Abu Dhabi.
This result extends Verstappen’s streak of winning at least once every year since joining Red Bull in 2016. He described the victory as “very special” after a “complicated and tough start to the year” where the team struggled with competitiveness.
George Russell Retires Late to Aid Kimi Antonelli
George Russell’s podium aspirations ended on lap 50 when a suspected power unit failure forced him to pull his Mercedes off the track, cbc.ca reported. Russell had run inside the top three for virtually the entire afternoon before the late retirement handed a massive title advantage to his teammate.
Following the race, Antonelli sits with an 84-point lead over Russell in the drivers’ standings with seven races remaining. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton capitalized on the chaos, while Mercedes told Antonelli over team radio that Russell’s stoppage stemmed from power unit trouble, prompting Russell to tell Sky Sports he was beyond disappointment.
Lewis Hamilton Fights From P18 to Podium
Formula1.com detailed that Hamilton, along with Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly, gambled on starting with dry-weather soft tires while the track remained damp from rain.
Other drivers also chose softs, including Gabriel Bortoleto, Nico Hulkenberg, Oliver Bearman, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, and Franco Colapinto. Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Fernando Alonso, and Lance Stroll used medium tires. Perez pitted for intermediates at the end of the first lap, followed a lap later by Piastri, Bortoleto, Stroll, and Hulkenberg.
At the start, Liam Lawson surged to third, while Hadjar reached fifth, ahead of Carlos Sainz, Alexander Albon, Esteban Ocon, Arvid Lindblad, and Piastri. Hamilton and Leclerc were pushed out of the top 10 initially due to their tire choice. Leclerc later overtook Hadjar to finish fourth, with Hadjar ending in fifth.
Fernando Alonso Extends Career as Esteban Ocon Faces Uncertain Future
Fernando Alonso secured an eighth-place finish for Aston Martin, marking the team’s best result of the season, while teammate Lance Stroll finished 12th on the lead lap. The result arrived just days after it was announced Alonso will return for an unprecedented 24th F1 season.
Oscar Piastri finished sixth for McLaren after a late battle with Liam Lawson, who finished seventh. Lando Norris took ninth after going off-track, and Arvid Lindblad finished 10th. Franco Colapinto recovered from 21st to finish 13th, while Lance Stroll finished 12th.
Meanwhile, Esteban Ocon is without a ride for next season. Ocon finished 15th in Malaysia and currently sits 16th in the drivers’ standings with seven points, trailing teammate Oliver Bearman.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many wins does Max Verstappen have with Red Bull?
Max Verstappen has 72 wins with Red Bull, matching the record set by Michael Schumacher with Ferrari.
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