If Formula 1 wanted a reminder of what Sepang International Circuit can deliver, the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia provided it in spectacular fashion.
Heavy rain, a delayed start, cars suddenly losing power during the formation lap, a software glitch, tyre gambles, Safety Cars, overtaking and a heartbreaking late retirement for George Russell turned Sunday’s race into one of the wildest Grands Prix of the 2026 season.
And when the madness finally ended after 55 laps, Max Verstappen was back on the top step of the podium.
The four-time World Champion took his first victory of the 2026 season for Red Bull, beating championship leader Kimi Antonelli by just 2.307 seconds, with Lewis Hamilton completing the podium for Ferrari.
SEPANG WEATHER IMMEDIATELY CREATES DRAMA
The Bahrain Grand Prix had already arrived in Malaysia under unusual circumstances, but Sepang’s notoriously unpredictable tropical weather made sure this would be anything but a normal Formula 1 weekend.
A huge downpour before the scheduled 3pm start left standing water around the circuit and forced Race Control to delay proceedings by approximately 40 minutes. When conditions finally improved enough for the cars to leave behind the Safety Car, it appeared the race was finally about to begin. Instead, things became even stranger.
Several cars suddenly began struggling to maintain speed during the formation lap.
Pole-sitter Verstappen slowed dramatically. Lewis Hamilton also lost drive and eventually crawled to a halt, while other drivers experienced similar problems. Race Control had little choice but to suspend the start procedure.
THE POWER PROBLEM THAT STOPPED THE START
Initially, it looked like Formula 1 was suffering from multiple simultaneous power-unit failures. But the problem was much more unusual.
The FIA later explained that an unprecedented combination of very low engine speeds, low-grip conditions, wet-weather energy-management settings and Sepang’s sector configuration triggered an unintended loss of power on several cars.
In other words, the cars were moving so slowly in the wet that the complex energy-management systems entered conditions that had not been properly encountered during previous running.
The FIA identified a software-related problem affecting the operation of the new-generation power units and worked with the teams and manufacturers to make changes before allowing the race to proceed.
The FIA has since announced a full investigation into the incident.
It was an extraordinary situation.
These are supposed to be the most technologically advanced racing cars in the world — yet several of them were effectively crawling around Sepang before the Grand Prix had even started.
Following the technical interruption, there was another delay of roughly 53 minutes before the field could finally be released again.
THEN CAME THE TYRE GAMBLE
By the time the technical problems had been resolved, Sepang was already changing again.
The rain had eased.
Parts of the circuit were drying.
Others remained dangerously slippery.
That created the next big question:
Intermediates or slicks?
Nine drivers chose intermediate tyres, while the rest gambled on slicks.
Verstappen, Antonelli, Russell and Isack Hadjar were among those choosing intermediates.
Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri went for slick tyres.
Suddenly the grid was split.
Nobody really knew which strategy would work.
Classic Sepang.
MERCEDES ATTACKS — VERSTAPPEN FIGHTS BACK
When racing finally began, Verstappen’s pole position didn’t immediately translate into control.
The two Mercedes cars attacked.
Kimi Antonelli and George Russell both got ahead of Verstappen on the run towards Turn 1, dropping the Red Bull driver from first to third.
For a moment, it looked like Mercedes had played the conditions perfectly.
But Verstappen remained patient.
As the race settled down, the Dutchman began working his way back towards the front.
A Safety Car caused by Valtteri Bottas spinning out added another strategic complication, but Verstappen eventually picked off both Mercedes cars and regained control of the Grand Prix.
From there, the Red Bull driver looked increasingly comfortable.
But at Sepang, comfortable rarely means safe.
HAMILTON FIGHTS BACK
Lewis Hamilton’s afternoon had begun with the bizarre power problem during the abandoned formation lap, and Ferrari’s decision to start him on slick tyres initially looked risky.
But as the circuit evolved, Hamilton came back into contention.
The seven-time World Champion eventually worked his way into the podium battle and would ultimately claim an impressive third place.
Charles Leclerc brought the second Ferrari home in fourth, giving the Scuderia a strong double finish after an unpredictable afternoon.
HEARTBREAK FOR GEORGE RUSSELL
One of the biggest stories, however, came right near the end. Russell was running third and appeared set for another podium. Then disaster struck. With only a handful of laps remaining, his Mercedes suffered a power-unit failure. Russell stopped on the start-finish straight and was classified 20th after completing 49 laps. The timing could hardly have been worse.
Antonelli was heading towards another huge haul of championship points while Russell was about to score nothing. The retirement increased Russell’s championship deficit to Antonelli from 66 points to 84 points, dealing a potentially devastating blow to his 2026 title challenge.
LATE SAFETY CAR SETS UP A SPRINT TO THE FLAG
There was still one more twist. Alex Albon’s incident brought out another Safety Car late in the race, wiping away Verstappen’s advantage and bunching the field together.
Suddenly Antonelli had another opportunity. When racing resumed, Verstappen had to get everything right. He did. The Red Bull driver absorbed the pressure and crossed the line 2.307 seconds ahead of Antonelli, finally securing his first victory of 2026. More significantly, the result delivered the first Formula 1 victory for Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
2026 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX IN MALAYSIA — RESULTS
- Max Verstappen — Red Bull Racing
- Kimi Antonelli — Mercedes +2.307s
- Lewis Hamilton — Ferrari +4.919s
- Charles Leclerc — Ferrari +7.258s
- Isack Hadjar — Red Bull Racing +8.571s
- Oscar Piastri — McLaren +9.454s
- Liam Lawson — Racing Bulls +12.753s
- Fernando Alonso — Aston Martin +13.372s
- Lando Norris — McLaren +13.993s
- Arvid Lindblad — Racing Bulls +15.928s
Nico Hulkenberg finished 11th, followed by Lance Stroll, Franco Colapinto, Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz, Gabriel Bortoleto and Sergio Perez.
DNF: George Russell, Alex Albon and Valtteri Bottas.
SEPANG REMINDS F1 WHAT MALAYSIA CAN DELIVER
There is something almost poetic about Formula 1 returning to Sepang under the banner of the Bahrain Grand Prix and immediately being reminded why racing in Malaysia was always so unpredictable.
- Heat.
- Humidity.
- Torrential rain.
- A rapidly drying racing line.
- Long straights.
- Fast corners.
- Tyre strategy.
And weather capable of turning an entire Grand Prix upside down within minutes. But this race added another dimension. The extraordinary software and power-unit problems during the formation lap will undoubtedly generate questions about the complexity of Formula 1’s new-generation hybrid regulations. The FIA itself described the circumstances behind the failures as unprecedented and has promised a comprehensive review.
For the fans, however, once the technical drama was finally resolved, Sepang delivered exactly what many remembered.
An absolutely wild Formula 1 race.
Verstappen returned to winning ways, his first this season, and 9 years ago he was the winner too in Sepang. Antonelli strengthened his grip on the championship. Hamilton returned to the podium.
Russell suffered a potentially championship-changing retirement. And Formula 1’s sophisticated new power-unit technology received perhaps its toughest reality check yet.
After nine years away from Formula 1 racing, Sepang International Circuit certainly didn’t make a quiet comeback. If anything, this race raised another question: Should Formula 1 come back to Malaysia permanently? Because if this is what Sepang can still produce, Malaysian fans may have just delivered Formula 1 a very convincing argument.
