Verstappen Triumphs in Chaotic, Rain-Hit Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen clinched his first victory of the season at the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, managing a chaotic race marked by a tropical downpour, software glitches, and George Russell's late retirement.
Software Glitches and Torrential Rain Delay Start in Malaysia
The race faced an initial 40-minute delay following a heavy downpour, which was subsequently extended by another 53 minutes due to dysfunctional software that rendered throttle inputs ineffective for multiple cars on the formation lap. When the formation lap eventually began, Isack Hadjar spun through the gravel while warming up intermediate tyres. Drivers faced difficult track conditions with lingering spray and slippery asphalt.
The disrupted start divided the grid on tyre strategy. While nine cars—including Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli, Russell, and Hadjar—started on intermediate tyres, several contenders gambled on slick tyres. Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri all opted for soft or medium slicks as the track slowly dried. Hamilton immediately regretted the decision on the wet circuit, telling his team over the radio, “It’s so slippery, guys,”
Mercedes Drivers Seize Lead as Slick Tyre Strategies Fail
At the lights out, Mercedes drivers Antonelli and Russell charged from the front to seize the opening positions, while Verstappen held off Liam Lawson for third place. Drivers who started on slicks plummeted down the order. Hamilton and Leclerc lost nearly a minute to the leaders in the opening laps, with Leclerc pitting at the end of the first lap for a new front wing after clipping Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi.
Other drivers quickly abandoned their slick tyre strategies. Perez pitted at the end of the first lap to swap to intermediates, while Piastri, Gabriel Bortoleto, Lance Stroll, and Hulkenberg followed suit a lap later. Verstappen recovered ground by passing Russell for second place at Turn 4 on lap six, positioning himself directly behind race leader Antonelli.
Bottas Crash Triggers Safety Car and Reshuffles Field
The race dynamic shifted on lap nine when Valtteri Bottas lost control of his Cadillac at Turn 13 and spun into the gravel, bringing out the safety car. The neutralization allowed the field to pit for slick tyres as the asphalt finally dried out. When racing resumed four laps later, Verstappen executed a decisive move around the outside of Antonelli at Turn 1 to take the lead, while Russell also passed the young Italian at Turn 5, dropping the championship leader to third.
Antonelli regained momentum on lap 21, passing his Mercedes team-mate Russell for second place at Turn 4, settling the top positions before late-race drama unfolded. Further down the order, Hamilton mounted a charge through the field to climb into the top five by lap 22, while Leclerc recovered into the top 10. During this phase, Antonelli hit the pit entry bollard on lap 24, allowing Verstappen to extend his lead to 7.5 seconds.
Russell Retirement and Late Safety Car Seal Victory
A late safety car deployment, triggered by Alex Albon’s stricken Williams, bunched the field for a four-lap sprint to the finish line. Verstappen maintained his supremacy through the restart to secure the win. Behind him, Russell suffered a technical issue and pulled off the track just before Turn 1 with five laps remaining.
Russell’s sudden stoppage created immediate trouble for following drivers. Lando Norris was forced to take his McLaren into the gravel at Turn 1 to avoid running into the back of team-mate Oscar Piastri, dropping from eighth to 11th before recovering to finish ninth behind Fernando Alonso.