Malaysian Grand Prix Review

Winner

Max Verstappen won the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Full classification

What happened

Max Verstappen finally broke his 2026 win drought with a masterful drive in a Malaysian Grand Prix that was anything but straightforward. The Dutchman overcame a chaotic, rain-delayed start and a mid-race safety car to take the first-ever victory for the new Red Bull Ford Powertrains unit. But while Verstappen was serene at the front, the story of the day was the championship picture, which saw Kimi Antonelli extend his lead after a devastating late-race retirement for his Mercedes teammate George Russell.

The race at Sepang, a last-minute replacement for the Bahrain Grand Prix, began in farce. A torrential downpour delayed the start by over 40 minutes, and when the cars finally attempted to take the grid, a bizarre software bug caused multiple drivers, including Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, to crawl to a near-halt on the formation laps. According to reports, the new 2026 power units struggled to cope with the low revs in the wet conditions, leading to a second, much longer delay as officials scrambled to implement a fix.

A Race of Two Strategies

When the race finally began in earnest, nearly two hours late, a split strategy on the damp track defined the opening laps. The Mercedes duo of Antonelli and Russell, starting on intermediate tyres, stormed past the slick-shod Verstappen into Turn 1. Those, like Ferrari and McLaren, who gambled on dry tyres found themselves losing huge chunks of time. Lewis Hamilton, for instance, dropped as far back as 17th, at one point 80 seconds off the lead.

The strategic picture was scrambled entirely on lap 9, when Valtteri Bottas lost control on the slippery surface and beached his Cadillac in the gravel, bringing out the safety car. This gave the leaders on intermediates the perfect window to switch to slicks, effectively neutralising the advantage they had built. Verstappen’s Red Bull team timed the stop perfectly, and he emerged ready to hunt down the Mercedes. He wasted little time, dispatching Russell before seizing the lead from Antonelli in a decisive side-by-side battle. From there, he controlled the race, even through a second safety car period late in the running.

Heartbreak for Russell Changes Everything

The final act of drama was reserved for the man who had the most to lose. With just a handful of laps remaining and the field bunched up behind the safety car—deployed to recover Alexander Albon's stricken Williams which had stopped with a technical problem—George Russell’s Mercedes suddenly coasted to a halt with a suspected power unit failure. It was a gut-wrenching moment for the Briton, who had been running in a comfortable third place. The retirement handed an 18-point swing to his teammate and championship rival, Kimi Antonelli, who came home in second. Antonelli now leads the standings by a commanding 84 points. "You've almost got to laugh. I'm beyond disappointment," Russell told Sky Sports after the race.

Behind the leaders, Lewis Hamilton produced a stunning recovery drive. Having been on the wrong tyres at the start, his relentless pace on the soft compound saw him carve through the field. A final stop under the late safety car allowed him to attack Isack Hadjar in the closing laps, securing a remarkable and unlikely podium finish for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc followed him home in fourth, with Hadjar holding on for a strong fifth.

For those considering a trip to Sepang, the weekend was a reminder of the track's ability to produce thrilling, unpredictable racing. However, reports from attendees noted significant logistical challenges, including transport chaos and long queues, which marred the experience for some fans. Organisers have acknowledged the issues, but it leaves an open question for future events at the classic venue.

Ultimately, while Verstappen celebrated a long-overdue victory, the weekend in Malaysia will be remembered for the massive shift in the championship fight. With his third DNF of the season, Russell's title hopes are now, in his own words, "exceptionally unlikely". The door is now wide open for Kimi Antonelli, whose calm and collected second place may prove to be one of the most important drives of his nascent and already impressive career.

Final Classification: 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
7. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
9. Lando Norris (McLaren)
10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
11. Nico Hülkenberg (Audi)
12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
13. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
14. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
15. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
16. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
17. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
18. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
19. Sergio Pérez (Cadillac)

Did Not Finish: George Russell (Mercedes), Alexander Albon (Williams), Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac).