Verstappen washes away frustrations with win at Bahrain Grand Prix
SEPANG: Max Verstappen flushed away at least some of his season-long frustrations on Sunday by winning the rain-delayed Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Max Verstappen silenced at least some of his season-long frustrations with a win at the rain-delayed Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday. The four-time Formula 1 champion claimed his first victory of 2026 and the 72nd of his illustrious career, holding off the current drivers standings leader Kimi Antonelli. George Russell's hopes of catching Antonelli for the title were dashed due to an engine failure with five laps remaining.
The new cars struggled in the wet conditions, causing initial delays and resulting in a lengthy restart. Verstappen described the chaotic start, attributing his success to making the right call with intermediates. Lewis Hamilton secured third place after starting from 18th. Charles Leclerc and Isack Hadjar rounded out the top five, with Hadjar impacted by the early conditions and Hadjar the first to lose control of his car. Verstappen expressed pride in his team's progress after a challenging year.
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