Verstappen makes triumphant return to Sepang in rain-hit Bahrain Grand Prix
Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen wins on F1’s return to Sepang after 9 years, with Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton joining him on the podium.
Max Verstappen secured a triumphant return to Sepang at the rain-soaked Bahrain Grand Prix, marking his first victory of the season at the same circuit where he triumphed in the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix. The Dutch driver overcame chaotic conditions and technical issues to outpace championship leader Kimi Antonelli in a race delayed by heavy rain and standing water.
Despite a near-miss with Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari and a power unit problem for George Russell, Verstappen's resilience proved decisive, leaving Hamilton to claim the final podium spot. The race, Formula One's first at Sepang since 2017, attracted a reported 261,000 spectators and 561 Bahraini marshals and motorsport officials.
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