Verstappen Secures First 2026 Victory
Milton Keynes’ own Max Verstappen has claimed his maiden victory of the 2026 racing season, triumphing at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The win marks a significant start to his championship campaign.
Challenging Conditions Delay Race Start
The race faced considerable delays before it could even begin. Over 40 minutes were lost due to heavy rain, which saturated the track surface. The circuit’s condition made it difficult for standing water to drain, and even the safety car struggled to maintain grip during preliminary laps.
The challenging conditions caused multiple cars to experience issues during the formation lap. These problems led to significant gaps forming between competitors as teams attempted repairs, ultimately suspending the start procedure.
Strategic Tire Choices and Overtakes
Following the extended delay, teams adopted varied strategies as the track began to dry. Both Red Bull entries, including Verstappen’s, opted to remain on intermediate tyres.
Verstappen experienced a slow start, dropping to third place. He was overtaken by both Mercedes drivers, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, while his teammate Isack Hadjar moved up to fifth.
By lap six, Verstappen had recovered to second position, overtaking Russell after the Mercedes driver ran wide. Shortly after, on lap seven, Hadjar advanced to fourth by passing Liam Lawson.
A safety car period was deployed when Valtteri Bottas found himself in the gravel. During this time, Verstappen pitted behind Antonelli, switching to soft slick tyres.
Hadjar, still in fourth, also opted for soft tyres, but his set was used. He pitted at the same time as Verstappen.
Verstappen Takes Control
Verstappen successfully overtook Antonelli on the restart, executing a precise move through the opening corners. Benefiting from softer tyres compared to the Mercedes’ mediums, Verstappen established a four-second lead over Russell by lap 20.
Meanwhile, Hadjar, on his used soft tyres, maintained a strong advantage over Lawson in fifth place. He was, however, over six seconds behind the two leading Mercedes cars.
Hadjar pitted on lap 32 for another set of soft tyres, with Lewis Hamilton following him into the pits shortly after.
A virtual safety car was deployed, prompting Verstappen to pit on lap 44 for a fresh set of soft tyres. This was followed by a full safety car, which bunched the field together for a tense final run to the finish line.
Race Conclusion and Records
George Russell was forced to retire before the restart due to a suspected power unit failure, promoting Hadjar to third. However, Ferraris subsequently overtook Hadjar, pushing him back to fifth.
Verstappen maintained his lead over Antonelli, ultimately crossing the finish line with a 1.8-second advantage.
This victory continues Verstappen’s impressive streak of winning at least one race every season since his debut in 2016. He also set a new record for the longest interval between wins at the same circuit, having last won in Malaysia in 2017.
The result sees Verstappen accumulate 188 points in the Drivers’ standings. Hadjar’s fifth-place finish contributed valuable points, helping Red Bull reach 298 points in the Constructors’ championship.
This story is based on reporting by MKFM. Read the original coverage: MKFM