Temi Kings
In one of the most unpredictable and chaotic race weekends in modern Formula 1 history, four-time World Champion Max Verstappen produced a tactical masterclass to claim his first victory of the 2026 season at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit.
Held under the "Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia" banner following emergency calendar adjustments, the event delivered unrelenting drama from start to finish. Severe tropical storms forced a 100-minute start delay, while widespread technical gremlins tested the grid’s resilience before a wheel was even turned in anger.
The drama began before the lights even went out. During the initial formation lap, an unprecedented electronic glitch tore through the field, causing multiple cars, including Verstappen’s Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari, to suffer severe power unit software losses.
The FIA Technical Department was forced to intervene, temporarily removing sector energy-limit constraints to allow software patches across teams. Compounded by torrential rainfall and lightning that flooded the Sepang tarmac, race control suspended the start procedure for nearly two hours to restore grid safety.
When the action finally got underway, strategy immediately took center stage. Splitting tire choices across intermediate and full-wet rubber, the grid wrestled with tricky traction conditions through Sepang's sweeping technical sectors. Mercedes prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli made an explosive launch to swipe the early lead into Turn 1, pressuring Verstappen through the opening stint.
As the track dried, tire degradation shifted the power balance. Verstappen and the Red Bull pit wall executed a flawless transition to slick tires, undercutting the leaders and navigating a late Virtual Safety Car restack.
A late-race Safety Car deployed for George Russell’s mechanical retirement set up a dramatic four-lap sprint to the checkered flag. Verstappen controlled the restart flawlessly, pulling clear of Antonelli to take the win by 2.3 seconds.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton executed a charging recovery from deep in the field after an early tire misstep, passing Isack Hadjar in the closing moments to secure a hard-fought third-place podium.
The victory marks a milestone moment for Red Bull Racing, securing their first win under their new power unit era and reaffirming Verstappen’s supreme adaptability in wet-weather conditions.