Max Verstappen claimed his first Formula 1 victory of the 2026 season in a dramatic Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, while George Russell suffered a late Mercedes failure that cost him valuable championship points.

Verstappen converted his pole position into victory in a race disrupted by heavy rain, technical problems, changing track conditions and multiple Safety Car periods.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was held at Sepang in Malaysia after the original event was relocated because of the conflict and instability in the Middle East.

Kimi Antonelli finished second, with Lewis Hamilton taking third for Ferrari after recovering from an early technical problem.

Hamilton fights back after throttle trouble

Hamilton started from the front row but encountered an acceleration problem during the formation lap. He reported to Ferrari that he was pressing the throttle but was not getting the expected response.

Despite the setback, Hamilton remained in contention as conditions evolved and eventually secured the final podium position.

Russell suffers late Mercedes failure

Russell's race ended late behind the Safety Car after a suspected Mercedes power-unit failure.

The retirement was particularly costly because Russell was one of the leading contenders in the 2026 championship. The failure denied him valuable points and gave his rivals an opportunity to strengthen their positions in the title battle.

Rain creates chaotic race

Heavy rain caused a lengthy delay before the race eventually got under way at Sepang. Standing water and difficult conditions made the opening stages challenging for the drivers.

The race also featured several Safety Car periods, while teams had to make difficult tyre decisions as the circuit moved between wet and drying conditions.

The unpredictable conditions added another layer of difficulty to a race already affected by technical problems.

Verstappen controls late stages

After the final Safety Car period, Verstappen produced a strong restart and maintained his advantage over Antonelli.

The Dutch driver held on through the closing laps to secure his first win of the season. Antonelli finished second, while Hamilton completed the podium.

What the result means

Verstappen's victory provides a significant boost to his 2026 campaign after waiting until the Bahrain round for his first win of the season.

For Russell, the late Mercedes failure represents a costly setback in a closely contested championship. A retirement at this stage of the season can have a major impact because every lost point becomes increasingly important as the title battle develops.

Hamilton's podium finish, meanwhile, marked a strong recovery from his early race trouble.

The Bahrain Grand Prix highlighted how technical reliability, tyre strategy and changing weather conditions can influence the championship as much as outright pace.

Verstappen took advantage of a difficult race to secure maximum points, while Russell left Sepang empty-handed after a late mechanical problem. With Antonelli also scoring a second-place finish, the result could further reshape the championship standings as the season progresses.