Verstappen Wins Rain-Soaked, Glitch-Hit Sepang Thriller for Red Bull's First Victory of 2026
Max Verstappen took his first win of 2026 at Sepang after rain, power-unit glitches and two safety cars turned F1's Malaysian return upside down.
Formula 1's first race at Sepang International Circuit since 2017 delivered everything the Malaysian crowd could have asked for, and a few things nobody expected. Max Verstappen won the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on Sunday, his first victory of the 2026 season, after a race shaped by torrential rain, an unprecedented power-unit software problem and two safety-car periods.
Verstappen, who started from pole, crossed the line 2.307 seconds ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, with Lewis Hamilton completing the podium after a fightback from 18th place.
How the race unfolded
- Rain first. Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit Sepang before the start, and the race was held back for a lengthy period. The Star reported a delay of around 90 minutes.
- Then the glitch. On the formation laps, a number of cars lost power. Hamilton stopped briefly on the back straight, and Verstappen reported his own power problems. The FIA said a software update was distributed to teams before the race finally got going.
- The tyre gamble. Several drivers, including both Ferraris and both McLarens, started on slick tyres. The track was still too wet, and they had to pit for intermediates almost immediately.
- Two safety cars. Valtteri Bottas spun his Cadillac off on lap 9, and Alex Albon's Williams was stranded later in the race, bringing out a second safety car around lap 47.
- A late twist. George Russell retired with a Mercedes power-unit failure in the closing laps, a major blow to his title hopes.
Verstappen controlled the race once he had re-established the lead, building a cushion of around 10 seconds before the late restart closed the field up again. He held on to win in a time of 1:47:14.808.
Top 10 at Sepang
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), +2.307s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), +4.919s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), +7.258s
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), +8.571s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren), +9.454s
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), +12.753s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), +13.372s
- Lando Norris (McLaren), +13.993s
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), +15.928s
Russell, Albon and Bottas were the retirements.
A milestone for Red Bull's own engine
This season Red Bull builds its own power unit for the first time, and Verstappen made it clear what the win meant. "To win our first race in our first year with our own power unit is pretty impressive," he said, according to Sky Sports. He added that it was "a really nice one after the year we've had and the progression we have made."
RacingNews365 noted the result keeps alive Verstappen's run of winning at least one race in every season since 2016.
Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle summed up the afternoon: "That is one of the craziest Formula 1 races I have ever seen."
What it means for Malaysian fans
For a country that had waited nine years to see F1 cars back at Sepang, this was a race to remember: a tropical downpour, a pole-sitter winning from the front and a seven-time world champion carving through the field.
F1 now heads straight to Singapore for the next round on 9–11 October, the same time zone as Malaysia and a short trip for fans who want more.
Key takeaways
- Verstappen won from pole for his first victory of 2026 and Red Bull's first with its own power unit.
- Antonelli finished second, Hamilton third after dropping to 18th early on.
- Rain, a formation-lap power glitch and two safety cars made it one of the wildest races of the season.
- Russell retired late with a power-unit failure.
FAQ
Who won the F1 race at Sepang on 4 October 2026? Max Verstappen of Red Bull won the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.
Why was the race delayed? Heavy rain held back the start, and a software-related loss of power on the formation laps caused a further stoppage before the race got under way.
When is the next F1 race? The Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay, from 9 to 11 October.
Sources: Sky Sports, RaceFans, RacingNews365, The Star