Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, taking his first victory of the season after a rain-affected race marked by delays and late-changing conditions. Multiple reports say the start is held up due to heavy rain and poor track conditions, with the race restarting later than scheduled and described as unusually chaotic.
Verstappen leads from early after a safety car period and holds off challengers to finish first at Sepang International Circuit. Kimi Antonelli finishes second for Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton also among the front runners before a late retirement for George Russell. Several outlets report Russell is running in third late in the race when he withdraws with power-unit trouble, turning the closing stages into a dramatic finish. Reports also note tyre strategy and overtaking throughout the race, including transitions between intermediate and slick tyres as the weather changes.
Overall coverage aligns on the key outcome—Verstappen’s win, Antonelli’s second place, and Russell’s late DNF—while differing in emphasis on how chaotic and rain-driven the start and end of the race are.
