From Autoweek · Phillip Horton · · 2m
Verstappen Wins Red Bull’s First 2026 Race
Max Verstappen secures Red Bull’s first 2026 victory after overcoming early struggles.
In brief
Max Verstappen secures Red Bull’s first 2026 victory after overcoming early struggles. Max Verstappen won his first race of the 2026 season for Red Bull Racing, ending their wait with a victory at Sepang. Originally reported by Autoweek.
Verstappen Ends Red Bull’s Wait
Max Verstappen delivered Red Bull Racing’s first victory of the 2026 season at Sepang in Malaysia.
Red Bull’s Early Struggles
Red Bull Racing faced challenges with a new power unit and struggled to compete early in the 2026 season.
Verstappen’s Contract Extension
Verstappen extended his contract through 2030 during his resurgence with Red Bull Racing.
Verstappen’s Race Performance
Verstappen overhauled Mercedes drivers early, then passed George Russell before pouncing on Kimi Antonelli at the restart.
First DM01 Power Unit Win
Verstappen won with Red Bull’s first DM01 power unit, a project initiated by Dietrich Mateschitz before his death in 2022.
Russell’s Title Hopes Diminish
George Russell’s slim title hopes were extinguished after his Mercedes power unit failed during the race.
Russell’s Engine Penalty
Russell received an engine penalty, setting him to start from the back of the grid in the next race.
Antonelli’s Title Lead
Kimi Antonelli extended his lead to 84 points, becoming Formula 1’s youngest world champion.
Hamilton’s Recovery
Lewis Hamilton recovered from a poor start to finish fifth after a late set-up change and dry restart.
Hamilton’s Race Strategy
Hamilton used soft tires to surge through the midfield and secure his first podium since Silverstone.
Alonso’s Strong Finish
Fernando Alonso scored an eighth-place finish with Aston Martin, his best result of the 2026 season.
Alonso’s Strategy
Alonso used slick tires in the wet to outpace Ferraris and secure an eighth-place finish.
Formation Lap Chaos
A 40-minute rain delay caused formation lap chaos, leading to a 50-minute delay for safety adjustments.
FIA Technical Response
The FIA updated software to address power unit issues after a race delay caused by heavy rain.
Verstappen’s Critique
Verstappen called the race a 'Lego race' due to the complexity of new power units.
Race Results Summary
Verstappen won, Antonelli second, Hamilton third, and Leclerc fourth in the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix.
The takeaway
Max Verstappen won his first race of the 2026 season for Red Bull Racing, ending their wait with a victory at Sepang.
