Relocated Bahrain Grand Prix: Verstappen wins at Sepang as Antonelli extends F1 lead

Max Verstappen won the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit on October 4, 2026, finishing 2.307 seconds ahead of Kimi Antonelli. Lewis Hamilton recovered from a difficult start to take third, 4.919 seconds behind the winner. Antonelli’s second place strengthened his lead in the Formula One drivers’ championship after his nearest rival, Mercedes teammate George Russell, retired late in the race.

Why was the Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia?

The event kept the Bahrain Grand Prix name but took place at Sepang International Circuit rather than in Bahrain. The move put the race in Malaysia on the October 2–4 weekend, between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix. Sepang’s weather became central to the result: a downpour left standing water on the track and delayed the planned start.

The field initially set off 40 minutes later than scheduled, but problems during the formation procedure led to a suspension and another wait. By the time racing could begin, the track was drying unevenly. Verstappen, Antonelli and Russell chose intermediate tyres suited to damp conditions; Hamilton and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc gambled on slicks. The choice gave Ferrari a difficult opening phase as its drivers fell down the order.

How did Verstappen take the lead?

Verstappen had started from pole, but both Mercedes drivers passed him when the race got under way. Antonelli led Russell into the first corner, leaving Verstappen to regain ground. He overtook Russell, then closed on Antonelli as the three front-runners navigated the damp track.

Valtteri Bottas’s spin brought out a Safety Car and gave the drivers on intermediates an opportunity to switch to slick tyres without losing as much time. Antonelli emerged ahead of Verstappen, but the Red Bull driver passed him after the restart and began building a lead. Russell also briefly got ahead of Antonelli before the championship leader reclaimed second place.

Further pit stops and a later Virtual Safety Car disrupted the running order, but Verstappen returned to the front and held his position through the final restart. The victory was his first of the 2026 season and Red Bull’s first that year. Although he took the maximum 25 points for the win, Antonelli’s result meant Verstappen did not make up ground on the championship leader.

How did Hamilton reach the podium?

Hamilton qualified alongside Verstappen on the front row, but his decision to start on slick tyres left him struggling while the circuit remained wet. He stayed with the strategy as the track dried and then worked his way back through the field. Leclerc, who also started on slicks, recovered after an early stop that included a front-wing change.

The closing stages gave Ferrari another opening. Russell’s Mercedes stopped while the field was circulating behind the Safety Car, removing a driver who had been running near the front. After racing resumed, Hamilton passed Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar for third. Leclerc passed Hadjar soon afterward to finish fourth, with Hadjar fifth. Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.

What changed in the championship?

Antonelli left Sepang with 320 points, up from 302 before the race. Russell scored nothing and remained on 236, so Antonelli’s advantage grew from 66 points to 84. Russell’s retirement, rather than Verstappen’s win, produced the biggest change at the top of the standings.

Hamilton’s podium lifted him to 214 points in third place, ahead of Leclerc on 191. Norris and Verstappen were level on 188, with Norris listed fifth and Verstappen sixth in the standings. Verstappen gained 25 points but remained 132 behind Antonelli.

In the teams’ championship, Mercedes stayed first on 556 points despite Russell’s retirement. Ferrari’s third- and fourth-place finishes brought it to 405, while McLaren had 316 and Red Bull 298. The race therefore delivered a breakthrough win for Verstappen, a substantial points haul for Ferrari and, above all, a wider drivers’ championship cushion for Antonelli.