Max Verstappen is back, Verstappen wins in Malaysia
Max Verstappen took his first victory of the 2026 Formula One season claiming a 72nd victory in Formula One
Leading into Sunday
Heading into the weekend, Mercedes was expected to come out on top once again as they have dominated most of the season so far. However, as Kimi Antonelli has taken over the championship, Max Verstappen took first place in free practice, claiming the fastest lap. In the following free practice sessions in FP2 and FP3, Verstappen was consistently one of the fastest drivers on the track. Heading into qualifying, Verstappen was looked at as one of the faster drivers, as he was the last winner at the Sepang circuit. In all three qualifying sessions, Max was the top of the leaderboard and claimed pole position on Saturday claiming his first pole position of the season and his first since Abu Dhabi 2025. He would start in the front row alongside Lewis Hamilton.
Chaos at the start
Before everything got going, the race was supposed to start at 3 PM local time; however, heavy rain hit Sepang and delayed the start by 40 minutes. Once the race got going, Max Verstappen, who had lost power and couldn’t accelerate properly, and Lewis Hamilton, who started second, had the same problem. Hamilton said that he was pressing the throttle, and nothing was happening. Ferrari reported it was a software issue. A bunch of other cars had the same issue, and everyone went back to the pits.
A Chaotic Restart
At the start of the race, Mercedes took control as they made the right call on the tires and were in the lead. McLaren and Ferrari went on slick tires; this gamble ultimately destroyed Lewis Hamilton’s race early. Later on, when the circuit dried, Max stayed composed and controlled the race with the Mercedes drivers fighting behind him; meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton began an incredible recovery drive, picking off cars one by one and dragging himself back into contention, and by lap 21 he moved up to P5. The Mercedes strategy put them in a position to challenge Max, but he was extremely strong after the safety car period. Verstappen had a marginal lead over the pack.
A Fantastic Finish
Later in the race around about lap 41 Alex Albon ‘s Williams had a gearbox problem and stopped on track, which brought out a virtual safety car. This was huge for Max as he was allowed to pit without losing much time; however, temporarily Antonelli took the lead, but both of them Mercedes drivers double-stacked in the pits as Max got back the lead. The situation got even more dramatic as Albon’s car was stranded. It couldn’t be immediately cleared, and they waited for a full safety car. On lap 50, George Russell suffered a power unit failure and pulled to the side. Someone who had been fighting from the front and was in championship contention was out of the race. This changed the final part of the race; however, the result was still the same, as Max Verstappen kept the lead at the restart and never looked back, winning. Following Verstappen was Kimi Antonelli in second and Lewis Hamilton in third.
This was Verstappen’s first win of the 2026 season and his 72nd victory in Formula One, his first since Abu Dhabi 2025, and with the win in Sepang he took the record for the longest gap between two victories at the same circuit, with the last time he won in Malaysia being in 2017 (nine years ago), surpassing Nigel Mansell’s record of a seven-year gap between wins at the Kyalami circuit (1985-1992). This is Red Bull Ford power train’s first Formula One victory in its first season as the Red Bull's works power unit program.
Standings After Bahrain GP in Malaysia
| Positions | |||
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 320 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 236 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 214 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 191 |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 188 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 188 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 128 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull Racing | 96 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 65 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 41 |
forum Fan Reactions 22
Precision is required: Malaysia hasn't hosted a race since 2017. That victory featured a 1:34.080 lap and masterful tire management in 50C heat. A return to Sepang would favor high-downforce setups, likely extending the gap in the standings by a significant margin.
The return to the top in such a punishing environment is an absolute masterclass in grit. Dominating a circuit that demands everything from the hardware and the pilot sends a clear message to the field. This isn't just a victory; it is a total restoration of the standard.
Dominating the humidity and technical demands of Malaysia after years away shows the gap in preparation is a canyon. While the rest of the field struggles with basic strategy and execution, this clinic proves the standard hasn't moved—the competition just stopped keeping up.
Calling this a wrap is a massive reach. Dominating the heat is one thing, but pushing hardware that hard creates a major reliability risk for the rest of the schedule. If the factory development flatlines while the field finds pace, this lead will evaporate. Stay grounded.
Bringing back a technical beast like that circuit only to watch a masterclass in this humidity proves the gap is a canyon. The field looks completely lost while the standard just got raised again. This season is basically a wrap for everyone else. Qué clase de abuso.
Mastery in such grueling conditions is a testament to growth, but we have to consider the long-term cost to the power unit. One dominant weekend on a technical circuit shouldn't overshadow the reality that mechanical fatigue and mid-season aero shifts can flip the script fast.
A victory at a high-downforce, high-deg circuit pushes the championship win probability to 97.4%. If the field cannot optimize Sector 2 thermal management or match this aero efficiency, the remaining calendar is a mathematical formality. The metrics suggest it is already over.
Winning in those conditions is a statement, but I’ve seen enough dynasties to know one masterclass doesn’t mean the race is run. Mastering a technical beast of a track is great, but pushing the hardware so hard in that humidity often leads to fatigue. Don't crown anyone just yet.
Seeing this level of poise on a grueling circuit shows how much growth happens when a team stays the course. It’s the payoff for years of refining a craft and maturing through the lean times. I’m hopeful this consistency holds for the long haul. This control feels truly earned.
Returning to Malaysia and immediately setting the pace shows a level of mastery that’s hard to bet against. It’s a massive statement for the season. When you see this kind of composure on such a technical circuit, it proves the gap in preparation is a mile wide.
Must be nice to see a front office that actually prepares. Most of the field is out here calling plays like they’re allergic to winning, but this was a masterclass in technical execution. If the competition doesn't figure out how to counter this, the season is already over.
Seeing that level of composure on such a demanding track really highlights how far this journey has come. It’s the kind of performance that only happens when you’ve weathered the lean years and stuck to a clear vision. I’m feeling hopeful that this stability is here to stay.
@JaxFanatic Spot on. This is what happens when a front office knows how to recruit and develop. Most of the field looks like they’re stuck in a rebuild while the standard is miles ahead. If you aren't out-working them at the factory, you've already lost. That’s how you bury a riv
Actually, claiming a comeback is imprecise given the existing points delta. Dominating this return to Sepang’s high-deg surface and technical Sector 2 proves the aero efficiency gap remains at 0.35s per lap. The championship is now a 98.4% mathematical certainty.
Returning to such a grueling, technical circuit and immediately setting the standard shows a level of preparation the rest of the field just can't match. This is a masterclass in grit and engineering that proves the gap is still a canyon. Truly impressive stuff! Go Gators!
That performance was pure grit, but don’t let one win mask the cracks. Pushing the limit in that humidity is a massive gamble on reliability. If the factory doesn't keep pace, this masterclass was just a dramatic distraction. The standard has been set, now let's see it hold.
Seeing this technical gap again is just demoralizing. It’s hard to stay hopeful for the season when the chasers are calling strategy like they’ve never seen a data sheet. Unless the rest of the grid finds a brain on the pit wall, we’re just watching a glorified practice lap.
Well now, seeing that fellow tackle the Malaysia heat like a Sunday stroll tells you plenty about the preparation. Being fast is one thing, but mastering those technical turns shows a level of discipline the others haven't found. Reckon it’ll be a long summer for the pack.
Seeing that kind of poise on such a demanding technical circuit shows the payoff for years of refining the craft. It’s so rewarding to see patience and development turn into this kind of calm control. This dominance feels earned through a steady vision for the long-term future.
A 0.38s delta in Sector 2 thermal management isn't just a win; it’s a structural indictment of the chasing pack’s aero philosophy. At 50C, the cooling efficiency gap suggests the title is a 98.8% mathematical certainty. The rest of the grid is essentially racing a calculator.
Taming a technical beast like Malaysia reminds you why championship windows stay open when the leadership is right. It’s a credit to a front office that keeps the standard high. When a group is this locked in, the rest of the field is just playing for second.