Max Verstappen converted pole position into a commanding victory at a rain-hit Bahrain Grand Prix, securing Red Bull’s first win of the 2026 season after a race shaped by changing conditions, strategic gambles and late drama.

A delayed start and suspended procedure set the tone for an unpredictable afternoon, with drivers struggling for grip on the formation lap.

When racing finally began, Verstappen slipped behind Mercedes pair Kimi Antonelli and George Russell at Turn 1, with all three on intermediate tyres. Verstappen quickly recovered, overtaking both before and after a Safety Car period triggered by Valtteri Bottas’s spin.

The Safety Car provided the perfect opportunity for intermediate runners to switch to slick tyres. Drivers who had started on slicks, including Ferrari duo Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, were initially punished by the slippery conditions, dropping towards the back. Both produced impressive recoveries, however, with Hamilton climbing to third and Leclerc fourth.

Once Verstappen regained the lead, he established a comfortable advantage over Antonelli and Russell, who battled for second.

Antonelli eventually finished runner-up, extending his championship lead, while Russell’s title hopes suffered another setback when he retired dramatically on the start-finish straight during the closing Safety Car period.

Isack Hadjar finished fifth ahead of Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson and Fernando Alonso. Lando Norris recovered to ninth after running through the gravel behind the Safety Car, while rookie Arvid Lindblad completed the points scorers in 10th.

Verstappen’s victory capped a chaotic but entertaining race in which tyre strategy proved decisive from start to finish.

2026 Bahrain Grand Prix (Sepang, Malaysia): Race Results

Official F1 results list Verstappen as the winner after 55 laps, with Antonelli second and Hamilton third.