Sepang, 4 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Four-time world champion Max Verstappen secured his first Formula One victory of the year and Red Bull’s first win of the season with a dominant drive in chaotic, rain-hit conditions at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The 29-year-old Dutchman, who last won at the Sepang International Circuit nine years ago, claimed his 72nd career victory after a race filled with accidents, safety-car periods and changing tyre strategies. Verstappen finished 2.307 seconds ahead of Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli, while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton completed the podium in third after a remarkable recovery drive. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth after recovering from last place, followed by Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson. Fernando Alonso secured eighth for Aston Martin, ahead of world champion Lando Norris and Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad. The result extended Antonelli’s championship lead to 84 points over teammate George Russell, who retired after a late power failure under the safety car. Verstappen praised his team’s tyre strategy, saying the decision to switch to intermediate tyres proved crucial in the difficult conditions. Antonelli said second place was the maximum Mercedes could achieve, while Hamilton described the race as extremely difficult after an early tyre gamble left him more than a minute behind the leaders. The race began after a 100-minute delay caused by a tropical rainstorm, with half the field starting on intermediate tyres. Verstappen eventually regained the lead on lap nine after the first safety-car period and held on through the closing stages, while Hamilton fought his way back through the field to secure third place.