F1 Sepang: Verstappen wins Bahrain GP despite software bug

Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, in Malaysia, on Sunday 4 October 2026. The Red Bull driver takes his first victory of the season, and the first for Red Bull Ford Powertrains, ahead of Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), after a 55-lap race disrupted by rain, a software bug and two Safety Car periods.

The podium and the order

• 1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): +2.307
• 3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): +4.919
• 4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +7.258
• 5. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull): +8.571

Oscar Piastri finished sixth, Liam Lawson seventh, Fernando Alonso eighth, Lando Norris ninth and Arvid Lindblad tenth.

A start delayed by rain and a software bug

A violent storm first pushed the start back by 40 minutes. During the start procedure, several cars, including those of Verstappen and Hamilton, lost all throttle response. Race Control suspended the procedure, and a further 53 minutes passed before the start.

According to the FIA's single-seater director, Nikolas Tombazis, the very low speeds of the formation lap exposed a software fault that prevented power from being redeployed. An emergency fix was installed on the cars. He acknowledged that a lack of testing in such conditions had let the fault slip through, and a full review is still to come. Several drivers called the episode unacceptable, and Fernando Alonso believes there is too much technology in F1.

A race turned by tyres and Safety Cars

Verstappen, Antonelli, Russell and Hadjar started on intermediates, while Hamilton, Leclerc, Norris and Piastri chose slicks. Antonelli and Russell made the best starts, but Verstappen took second place back on lap six. On lap nine, the Safety Car, triggered by Valtteri Bottas running off into the gravel, let the intermediate runners switch to slicks. Verstappen, on softs against mediums at Mercedes, passed Antonelli around the outside at the first corner of the restart.

Hamilton, who started on slicks, saw the gap grow before climbing back to the podium. On lap 41, Alex Albon stopped with a gearbox problem, triggering a Virtual Safety Car, and a final Safety Car then bunched the field. Verstappen held his position while Hamilton and Leclerc passed Hadjar.

Russell stopped, Antonelli strengthened

George Russell's car stopped on the start/finish straight after 49 laps. He is classified 20th. Antonelli now has an 84-point lead in the championship: 320 points against 236 for Russell and 214 for Hamilton. Verstappen has 188.

The editorial team