Max Verstappen wins 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang
Max Verstappen won the Formula 1 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix—initially scheduled as the Bahrain Grand Prix—on October 5, 2026, securing his 72nd career victory after starting from pole position in a race plagued by torrential rain and a delayed start.
The 16th round of the championship faced a weather delay exceeding one hour and a half at Sepang. The race encountered further disruptions when a two-lap formation run behind the safety car exposed engine power issues across multiple cars, including the Red Bull of Verstappen and the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton on the front row.
Heavy precipitation left the track wet but drying rapidly, a transition that prompted Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc alongside Pierre Gasly, Oliver Bearman, Franco Colapinto, and Valtteri Bottas to gamble on soft tires at the start. This decision backfired immediately, dropping Hamilton from second to 17th and Leclerc to last place before Leclerc pitted on lap four following contact with Nico Hülkenberg.
Verstappen Recovers After Mercedes Pressure
Verstappen, starting on intermediate tires, lost his initial lead to the Mercedes drivers before reclaiming ground. A subsequent spin and retirement by Valtteri Bottas driving for Cadillac triggered a strategic shift to dry-weather tires. Verstappen capitalized by taking softs against the mediums of the Mercedes cars, seizing the lead on the 13th-lap restart while Kimi Antonelli dropped two positions.
Williams driver Alex Albon suffered a broken gearbox on lap 16, deploying a safety car that bunched the field for the final six laps. Shortly after, George Russell stopped on the start-finish straight. This allowed Antonelli to inherit a more secure grip on the standings while Hamilton surged through the field.
Antonelli Extends Championship Lead in Sepang
Verstappen crossed the finish line 2.307 seconds ahead of Kimi Antonelli, with Lewis Hamilton taking third place 4.919 seconds back after recovering from his early 18th-place deficit. Fernando Alonso secured eighth place for Aston Martin, marking his best result of the 2026 season.
The outcome solidifies Kimi Antonelli’s position atop the drivers’ standings with 320 points. George Russell maintains second place with 236 points despite his late retirement, while Lewis Hamilton sits third with 214 points. Verstappen’s victory pulls him level with reigning world champion Lando Norris at 188 points, trailing Charles Leclerc who holds fourth place.
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