Max Verstappen claimed his first Formula 1 win of 2026 at a rain-hit Malaysian Grand Prix, while Kimi Antonelli extended his championship lead.

Max Verstappen secured his first Formula 1 victory of the 2026 season on Sunday, mastering treacherous conditions to win the rain-hit Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit.

The Red Bull driver, who started from pole position, recovered from a poor launch to finish 2.3 seconds ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The victory also marked Red Bull’s first triumph with its own power unit.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton completed the podium after staging a remarkable recovery from an early tyre gamble that initially appeared to have ruined his race.

Rain Causes Major Delays at Sepang

The Malaysian Grand Prix was moved from Bahrain because of unrest in the Middle East and was delayed by more than 90 minutes after torrential rain and technical problems during the formation laps.

The race also provided the first major test of the new-generation 2026 cars in sustained wet conditions.

Several drivers, including Verstappen and Hamilton, slowed dramatically during the formation procedure because of an apparent software issue linked to low-speed running on a wet track.

When the race eventually began, Mercedes drivers Antonelli and George Russell surged ahead, while Verstappen initially struggled to make the most of his pole position.

Hamilton’s Tyre Gamble Backfires

Hamilton’s decision to start on soft slick tyres, alongside Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc and both McLaren drivers, proved disastrous as the track remained wet.

The slick-shod drivers rapidly dropped down the order and lost almost a minute to the leaders.

Verstappen gradually recovered before overtaking Antonelli following a safety car period and taking control as the circuit began to dry.

“It’s a really nice one after the year that we’ve had and the progression that we’ve made,” Verstappen said. “I’m incredibly proud of everyone.”

Hamilton benefited from staying on slicks as conditions improved and climbed back through the field.

A late safety car allowed him to switch to soft tyres before he passed Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar for third with three laps remaining.

Russell Retirement Boosts Antonelli

The biggest championship twist came when Russell suffered a suspected power unit failure five laps from the finish.

His retirement allowed Antonelli to extend his championship advantage from 66 to 84 points, strengthening the Mercedes driver’s position at the top of the standings.

Leclerc finished fourth, ahead of Hadjar, Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris and Arvid Lindblad.

Verstappen Ends Sepang Drought

Verstappen’s victory was his first at Sepang since 2017 and made him the sixth different winner of the 2026 season.

The result also provided Red Bull with an important milestone as the team celebrated its first victory using its own power unit.

Attention now turns to the next round of the championship in Singapore, with the race scheduled for 12 October at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

With Antonelli extending his championship lead and Verstappen returning to the top step of the podium, the title battle heads into the next phase of the 2026 season.