Purple Bull Racing’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen crosses the end line to win the System One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang on October 4, 2026. Photograph: AFP
SEPANG:
4-time world champion Max Verstappen secured his and Purple Bull’s first win this yr with an imperious drive Sunday in chaotic circumstances in a storm-delayed Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
9 years after successful the final F1 race on the Sepang Worldwide Circuit, the 29-year-old Dutchman got here by means of a wild afternoon of accidents and incidents for his 72nd victory and first since Abu Dhabi final yr.
In a race of shifting tyre methods, he got here residence 2.307 seconds forward of championship chief Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton who took third after an exhilarating restoration drive.
His Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc was fourth, having fallen to final place within the early laps, forward of Isack Hadjar within the second Purple Bull, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and the Racing Bull of Liam Lawson.
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso completed a season-best eighth for Aston Martin forward of world champion Lando Norris and Racing Bull rookie Arvid Lindblad.
The end result prolonged Antonelli’s result in 84 factors forward of teammate George Russell, who retired after a late energy failure underneath a security automobile.
“It’s very nice to win after the yr we have had and all of the development we have made,” mentioned a delighted Verstappen.
“It’s super-nice to win right here. It was very hectic with loads of various things, however we made the proper name with the inters (intermediate tyres).”
Antonelli congratulated him and added: “It was the utmost we may have achieved. We struggled, however I’m completely satisfied to return away with P2.”
‘Robust race’
Hamilton was greeted by a roar from the large crowd.
“What a tricky race that was,” he mentioned.
“I used to be greater than a minute again after we made the improper name on tyres in the beginning and everybody was pulling away.”
The race had adopted a protracted 100-minute delay following a tropical rainstorm, and commenced with half the sphere on intermediate tyres.
Each Mercedes promptly swamped Verstappen, Antonelli taking the lead in flip one, adopted by Russell.
Hamilton, on tender slicks, had no grip and tumbled down the order from second on the grid because it turned clear that the circumstances remained treacherous.
All of it modified on lap 9 when Valtteri Bottas slid off into the gravel and the security automobile was deployed, bringing practically everybody in for dry tyres with Antonelli taking mediums and Verstappen softs.
Hamilton stayed out and upon the resumption Verstappen pounced to brush spherical Antonelli and regain a lead he wouldn’t relinquish.
Hamilton continued his restoration, slicing by means of the sphere and by lap 23 had disbursed with Lawson to take fifth.
He closed up inside six seconds of the Frenchman earlier than the pair pitted on lap 31. “This tyre feels horrible,” mentioned Hamilton of his new mediums.
A late digital after which full security automobile noticed everybody pit for contemporary softs.
Russell’s retirement enabled Hamilton to get on to the rostrum when he handed Hadjar within the last four-lap sprint to the chequered flag.