90-Minute Rain Delay, Cars Losing Power & Russell Out Late: Verstappen Survives Sepang Chaos To Win

Formula 1’s first weekend at Sepang since 2017 turned into an event Malaysians will probably remember for years. Huge crowds arrived for the Bahrain Grand Prix, but the weekend also brought long shuttle waits, technical glitches and heavy rain before Max Verstappen eventually won a chaotic race on Sunday.

Before The Race Even Started, Sepang Had Already Turned Into Chaos

Malaysia waited nine years for Formula 1 to race at Sepang again, and apparently the weather decided a normal comeback would be far too boring. A huge thunderstorm soaked the circuit shortly before the scheduled 3pm start, leaving standing water severe enough for Race Control to delay proceedings while marshals worked to clear the track. Even when cars were eventually sent out, things immediately went wrong. Isack Hadjar aquaplaned, Pierre Gasly struggled badly for grip and several cars experienced technical problems during the formation process, forcing the start procedure to be suspended again. The eventual delay stretched beyond 90 minutes before racing finally got underway in mixed conditions, with some drivers gambling on slick tyres while others chose intermediates. Verstappen started from pole but was beaten into Turn 1 by Mercedes pair Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. For a moment, the man who had won the last Malaysian Grand Prix here in 2017 suddenly found himself chasing two Mercedes cars on a circuit that was still changing almost every lap.

Verstappen Lost P1 At The Start, Then Took The Race Back

The early setback did not last. Verstappen settled into the slippery conditions before working his way past Russell and then Antonelli, with a Safety Car caused by Valtteri Bottas’ spin creating the perfect opportunity for drivers on intermediates to move onto slicks. From there, the Red Bull driver began controlling the race while some of those who had gambled on dry tyres from the beginning paid heavily. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were among them, both tumbling towards the rear before spending the rest of the afternoon charging back through the field. Then Sepang produced one final twist. Alex Albon stopping on track triggered a late Virtual Safety Car that became a full Safety Car, briefly reshuffling the leaders through another round of pit stops. Verstappen regained P1 after Antonelli stopped, but behind them Russell’s afternoon suddenly ended when his Mercedes ground to a halt while running third. Mercedes later confirmed a power unit failure, turning what looked like another podium into a retirement just five laps from the finish.

Verstappen Finally Wins In 2026, While Hamilton Comes Back From 18th To The Podium

When racing resumed for the final run, Verstappen nailed the restart and never gave Antonelli another realistic opportunity. He crossed the line 2.307 seconds ahead of the Mercedes driver to finally secure his and Red Bull’s first Grand Prix victory of 2026. Behind them came arguably the comeback of the afternoon. Hamilton had fallen as low as 18th after Ferrari’s early slick-tyre gamble backfired, but fought his way back through the field before passing Hadjar late on to steal the final podium position. Leclerc recovered to fourth, with Hadjar fifth and Oscar Piastri sixth. Russell’s retirement also carried much bigger consequences than simply losing a trophy: Antonelli’s second place extended his championship advantage over his Mercedes teammate to 84 points. So after nine years without F1 at Sepang, Malaysia didn’t get some ceremonial comeback race. It got rain, aborted procedures, wildly different tyre strategies, technical failures, comeback drives, a late championship blow and Verstappen standing on the top step again. For Sepang’s return, it would have been difficult to script something more chaotic.

Key Facts

What happened: Formula 1 returned to Sepang for the first time in nine years, with Malaysia hosting the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix.

Where: Sepang International Circuit, Selangor.

When: 2 to 4 October 2026.

Major issues: Fans reported lengthy waits for shuttle buses, while the race weekend also experienced technical issues and severe weather.

Race winner: Max Verstappen.

Why it mattered: The weekend marked F1’s first race at Sepang since the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix.

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Sources

Primary report: Formula 1
Race reporting: Formula 1 and international race coverage. (⁠The Guardian)
Transport response: Rapid KL statement reported by SAYS. (⁠SAYS)
Event: Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
Venue: Sepang International Circuit
Race weekend: 2 to 4 October 2026
Context: Malaysia hosted the Bahrain Grand Prix as a replacement event, marking F1’s return to Sepang for the first time since 2017

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Race Highlights | Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026

By – Tarziman — 04:49PM
An independent writer who enjoys finding interesting angles in everyday stories. He believes even the simplest moments can be worth sharing when they’re told in a clear, relaxed and easy-to-understand way.