Max Verstappen secured his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the chaotic Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, driving his Red Bull to the 72nd win of his career after starting from pole position, publico.pt reported. The race, originally scheduled as the Bahrain Grand Prix before being relocated for safety reasons, took place on October 5, 2026, and was heavily disrupted by torrential rain and a delayed start.
Weather Delays and Grid Chaos at Sepang
The race start suffered an initial delay of more than an hour and a half due to heavy precipitation at the Sepang International Circuit. According to observador.pt, a first formation attempt behind the safety car was red-flagged after multiple drivers struggled with grip and power unit software issues, particularly affecting Ferrari-powered cars and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull on the front row. Conditions improved slightly as the track began to dry, prompting several teams to gamble on slick tyres.
Ferrari Drivers Recover Points After Failed Tyre Gamble
Ferrari rolled the dice with a high-risk slick tyre strategy on a damp track, an approach publico.pt described as a “kamikaze strategy.” The gamble backfired instantly as Lewis Hamilton plummeted from second to 17th place, while Charles Leclerc dropped from fourth to the back of the grid. Leclerc was forced into the pits by the fourth lap following a collision with Nico Hülkenberg due to a total lack of grip. Despite the early nightmare, both drivers fought back through the field to rescue valuable points, with Hamilton finishing third and Leclerc fourth.
Verstappen Battles Back to Lead
Verstappen, starting on medium tyres from pole, lost positions at the start to the Mercedes cars before clawing his way back. Following a safety car period triggered by Valtteri Bottas’s retirement in his Cadillac, Verstappen seized the lead on lap 13 by switching to soft tyres while Mercedes opted for mediums. Verstappen never relinquished the top spot thereafter, crossing the finish line 2.307 seconds ahead of his pursuers, according to Record.
Kimi Antonelli Extends Lead as George Russell Retires
Kimi Antonelli finished second for Mercedes to extend his drivers’ championship lead to 320 points. George Russell, his teammate and title rival, held 236 points before suffering a late engine failure on the main straight that left his car immobilized near the pit exit. Lewis Hamilton capitalized on Russell’s retirement to claim the final step of the podium, securing 214 points overall. Record noted that Hamilton described the frantic outing as the best race he has experienced at the venue.
Closing Out the Points Positions
Behind the podium finishers, Isack Hadjar took fifth for Red Bull, while Oscar Piastri finished sixth for McLaren. Liam Lawson placed seventh for Racing Bulls, ahead of Fernando Alonso, who delivered his best result of the season with an eighth-place finish for Aston Martin. Lando Norris and Arvid Lindblad rounded out the points-paying positions in ninth and tenth respectively, leaving Verstappen tied with Norris on 188 points in the standings.
Unresolved Championship Questions
With Antonelli holding a commanding 84-point advantage over Russell, the title momentum rests firmly with the young Italian driver. Whether Ferrari can sustain its recovery pace after Sepang’s strategic gamble remains unverified as the championship prepares for its next official round on the 2026 calendar.
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