Verstappen wins rain-hit Bahrain GP for first victory of 2026
Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix on 4 October 2026, holding off Kimi Antonelli to take his first victory of the season. It was also Red Bull's first win of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Formula 1
The race was rain-delayed and rain-hit at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, the listed venue for this year's Bahrain Grand Prix. Verstappen started from the front and stayed there when it mattered. Antonelli finished second for Mercedes.
George Russell retired late in the race. His exit removed one of the front-runners from the closing stages and helped settle the fight at the front in Verstappen's favour.
Verstappen had already set the pace in qualifying. He took pole position, his first of the season, with a lap of 1 minute 35.130 seconds. Lewis Hamilton qualified second for Ferrari. Reuters
Pole position simply means starting first, with the fastest qualifier at the head of the grid. From there, the leader gets clean air and first choice of racing line into turn one. Verstappen used that advantage to control a messy, wet afternoon.
For fans, this means the maths of the season shifts. A first win ends the wait for Verstappen and Red Bull and puts pressure back on the cars ahead in the points table.
Formula 1's standings listings place Antonelli first on 320 points, followed by Russell on 236, Hamilton on 214 and Charles Leclerc on 191. Lando Norris and Verstappen are both listed on 188 points. Formula 1
The result was quickly picked up across the paddock. Sam Bird and Andrew Benson discussed Verstappen's victory on The Chequered Flag Podcast. BBC Sport An Associated Press report, headlined 'Verstappen beats Antonelli to win F1's Bahrain GP in Malaysia as Russell retires', was published at 7:04 a.m. EDT on 4 October 2026.
