Summary

  • Verstappen wins ahead of Antonelli and Hamilton following several overtakes for cars off start as result of divergent tyre choices

  • Russell retires late in race from third, impacting title race

  • Race start delayed by more than hour and a half after heavy rain and confusion over grid order

  • Cars out of position during attempts to form behind safety car because of reported software issues

  • Original grid line-up used for restart

  • Two safety cars following Bottas and Albon retirements

  • Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia held at Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur

  • Race rescheduled from April because of Middle East unrest

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Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

  1. Final lap

    Lap 55/55

    What a day this has been. Max Verstappen starts the final lap of this chaotic grand prix and he's free of any presure from second-place Kimi Antonelli.

    The Dutchman took the last win here nine years ago, and back then he had just turned 20 and it was his second career victory.

    Here he comes to the line.

  2. Sam Bird
    Former Formula E driver on 5 Sports Extra

    Max Verstappen has been the man to beat all weekend. He has been a man on a mission, the latest upgrades from Red Bull are working. We saw that in Baku and here is another example.

  3. Leclerc also passes Hadjar

    Lap 54/55

    Isack Hadjar needs to regroup after that pass, but another Ferrari is hunting him down. Charles Leclerc is ready to jump and the Red Bull man falls another place to P5. Leclerc is now fourth after dropping all the way to the back at the start of this race - which feels like ages ago.

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    Absolutely vintage Hamilton. Arise, Sir Lewis

    Jack, Burton

  5. Hamilton takes P3

    Lap 53/55

    Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (3) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford Powertrains leads Lewis Hamilton of Great BritainGetty Images

    Lewis Hamilton has done it! The seven-time world champion is up into the podium places with a huge overtake on the Red Bull of Isack Hadjar. The crowd went wild when it happened.

  6. Sam Bird
    Former Formula E driver on 5 Sports Extra

    Max Verstappen controlled the re-start perfectly, bit of a gap between Antonelli and Hadjar appearing, Lewis Hamilton right up the young Frenchman's gearbox.

  7. Verstappen leads from Antonelli

    Lap 52/55

    Max Verstappen was cool as a cucumber at the restart and he stays ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

    There are battles all over the track now, and Lewis Hamilton, who has had an eventful race today, has Isack Hadjar in his sights.

  8. Safety car ending

    Lap 51/55

    The safety is ending and we'll be going racing once more in Sepang.

    Can Max Verstappen keep hold of the lead? Of course he can...

  9. Sam Bird
    Former Formula E driver on 5 Sports Extra

    Antonelli now has got one hand and four fingers on the trophy. It is nearly done, isn't it. It is all but mathematically done with this result today.

    This also means Isack Hadjar moves up to third. Lewis Hamilton from what was a diabolical start is challenging for the podium.

  10. Team radio - Antonelli to Mercedes

    Antonelli: "What the... What happened?"

    Engineer: "We need to diagnose it but it looks like a PU issue."

  11. Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent

    They're saying it is a suspected engine problem [for George Russell].

  12. Russell comes to a stop

    Lap 50/55

    George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team is given a ride by a marshal after retiring from the race during the F1Getty Images

    George Russell is pulling over in the Mercedes! The Briton is out of this race with the safety car still out on track.

    It looks like an engine issue for Russell, and with no points scored in round 16, that will probably end his title challenge.

    Lando Norris also went off track and onto the gravel! It's all happening in Malaysia today.

  13. Lap 49/55

    This has been a long old morning for us all, and if you've been with us right from the very start, we thank you!

    Will we get going soon? We should do.

    But hang on, George Russell looks to be in trouble...

  14. Safety car

    Lap 48/55

    The safety car stays out as cars need to unlap themselves. The Williams of Carlos Sainz was one of those cars, so too was the Cadillac of Sergio Perez, who has finally caught up with the rest of the field after lagging behind slightly.

  15. Safety car

    Lap 47/55

    The field has bunched up as they follow the safety car around the Sepang circuit, Max Verstappen leading the way ahead of Kimi Antonelli and the other Mercedes of George Russell.

    Isack Hadjar is still ahead of Lewis Hamilton in fourth place, with Charles Leclerc now up to sixth with the latest round of pit stops.

  16. Safety car out

    Lap 46/55

    Sam Bird
    Former Formula E driver on 5 Sports Extra

    The FIA Safety Car leads the field during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain in Malaysia at Sepang Circuit on October 04, 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaGetty Images

    That makes it interesting, doesn't it [safety car being deployed]. This is probably why Mercedes opted to change tyres, knowing that it would go to safety car, because that crane is going to have to come out of that barrier area on to the grass in a dangerous area. The FIA opting for a safety car in these conditions. That compacts the field together.

  17. Antonelli makes a pit stop

    Lap 45/55

    George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W17 makes a pitstop during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain in Malaysia at SepangGetty Images

    Mercedes bring in both their drivers to take a pit stop. Both Kimi Antonelli and George Russell go onto the softs, and Max Verstappen retakes the lead.

    It's taking a bit longer to recover Alex Albon's car, so a full safety car has been deployed.

  18. Verstappen pits under VSC

    Lap 44/55

    Red Bull change Max Verstappen onto more softs and the Dutchman rejoins the action in second place, as Kimi Antonelli stays out for now. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc also made a pit stop, along with Oscar Piatri, who McLaren place on the hards.

    The marshals are on the scene to try and recover Alex Albon's car, which stopped on the grass.

  19. Sam Bird
    Former Formula E driver on 5 Sports Extra

    Super clever driving from Isack Hadjar and I will tell you why. He over-slowed the car deliberately and almost stopped it at the apex of Turn 2, to ensure that Lewis couldn't get the slingshot from the outside to the inside at Turn 2. So delayed Lewis on the throttle and allowed Hadjar to power out of Turn 2. Really clever driving from the youngster that drives for Red Bull.

  20. Virtual safety car

    Lap 43/55

    Alex Albon has stopped in the Williams and the virtual safety car is deployed. Which drivers fancy a stop under the VSC? Race leader Max Verstappen does...