Verstappen wins chaotic Bahrain GP at Sepang as drivers condemn engine rules
Max Verstappen won a chaotic Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang in Malaysia after engine software failures left cars stranded and forced a 53-minute delay.
The Red Bull driver took victory ahead of Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who remains the championship leader. Defending world champion Lando Norris finished ninth for McLaren. It was Verstappen’s first pole position and first win of the 2026 season Reuters.
The start was aborted when several cars could not get away. The field returned to the pit lane for a software update before racing could begin. The delay lasted 53 minutes, according to The Guardian.
Rain made a difficult day worse. The race at the Sepang International Circuit was rain-delayed, and the low-grip, wet conditions exposed a fault in the electronics that control the engines.
Multiple cars stopped on track and were unable to accelerate. Lewis Hamilton ground to a halt during the race and had to switch his car and engine off completely before restarting it. George Russell suffered a power-unit problem — Formula 1’s term for the engine and hybrid system together — and recorded a late DNF, meaning he did not finish.
Norris never threatened the leaders. He had already blamed the Sepang tarmac for McLaren’s struggles in qualifying. Antonelli had topped final practice ahead of Verstappen, then said running wide and exceeding track limits at Turn 6 cost him a possible front-row start.
After the flag, the drivers united to condemn the current engine regulations. The FIA, the sport’s governing body, described the failures as “an unintended loss of power” caused by engine-control software that had been insufficiently tested in low-grip, wet conditions.
The row centres on the 2026 power-unit formula, which uses an almost 50-50 split between electric power and combustion power from fuel. Drivers can also call upon Recharge, Boost and Overtake Mode, different ways of saving and deploying electric energy. The FIA says the formula will not be changed this season, with a minor adjustment next year and more serious change in 2028.
For fans, this means the maths at the top barely moved despite the drama. Antonelli banked second place while his closest Mercedes team-mate scored nothing. Verstappen took a much-needed win. Norris limited the damage with ninth. The cars were fast when they ran. Too often, they did not run at all.
