Verstappen Wins Rain-Hit Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
Max Verstappen won the rain-affected Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on October 4, 2026, giving himself and Red Bull their first victory of the season, according to Formula 1’s official report. The event was held at Sepang; the unusual event name is the one used by both F1 and the FIA.
The leading finishers
| Position | Driver | Gap to winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Winner |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | 2.307 seconds |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | 4.919 seconds |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | 7.258 seconds |
| 5 | Isack Hadjar | 8.571 seconds |
A changing track reshaped the race
F1 reports that Verstappen lost ground to the Mercedes drivers at the start, then recovered the lead. A safety-car period following Valtteri Bottas’s spin gave intermediate-tire starters an opportunity to switch to slicks as conditions improved.
Hamilton and Leclerc recovered from difficult opening stages on slick tires to finish third and fourth. George Russell retired late, while Antonelli finished second. The FIA’s report also identifies the result as the first victory for the Red Bull Ford power unit.
How to read the result
The finishing order alone conceals two different contests: managing the wet-to-dry transition and racing once the field had moved to slicks. A useful race review follows the timing of the tire changes before attributing every position change to outright car pace.
That distinction also helps when comparing this result with a dry race. Weather, neutralizations and retirements all shape the opportunities available to drivers. For more competition coverage, read our Porsche Petit Le Mans report.
Sources: Formula 1 race report and results, October 4, 2026; FIA race report, October 4, 2026.