Max Verstappen returned to form at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia nine years since the circuit hosted a race, converting pole position for his first race win of the season. This victory marked his 72nd career win, adding to his streak of winning at least one race per season for 11 consecutive seasons.
Round 16 of the Formula 1 season was originally scheduled to take place in Bahrain, but it was relocated to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The most recent race at Sepang was the Malaysia GP in 2017, won by Verstappen. The 5.543 kilometer track consists of 15 turns and 56 laps, covering a total distance of 310.98 kilometers.
With rough asphalt and aggressive turns, Sepang rewards bold driving.
Verstappen secured pole position in qualifying, maneuvering the Red Bull to a qualifying lap time of 1:35.130, almost 0.3 seconds ahead of the P2 Ferrari driver, Lewis Hamilton.
Isack Hadjar of Red Bull Racing qualified behind Hamilton at P3 but was later demoted five positions after taking a new power unit. Mercedes driver Andrea “Kimi” Antonelli was bumped up to P3 following Hadjar’s demotion, setting the starting lineup.
Race morning was marked with drama right out of the gate, with heavy monsoon rains sweeping the track, which delayed the initial start by 40 minutes. After two formation laps, a software bug affected multiple cars, bringing racers to a halt and delaying the start by another 53 minutes.
This season’s new regulations introduced a 50-50 battery-engine split, and without battery deployment, engine power was effectively reduced to half.
The race started at 4:33 p.m. local time, 93 minutes past its original start time of 3 p.m. At the start of the race, Antonelli leapt from P3 to the lead, while Hamilton dropped down to P18 following a strategy gamble with slick tires in the wet conditions.
On lap nine, Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas crashed off track, causing the safety car to come out. Drivers on intermediate tires entered the pits, switching to slick tires as the track dried.
At the race restart, Verstappen was able to regain the race lead from Antonelli, and Mercedes teammate George Russell overtook Antonelli.
The race action then lulled until lap 43, when Williams driver Alex Albon stopped on the track, prompting a virtual safety car followed by a normal safety car when his car could not be moved.
Heartbreak came for Russell on lap 49 when his engine failed, forcing him to retire from the race and likely hope for a title bid.
Verstappen crossed the line 2.3 seconds ahead of Antonelli in P2, with Hamilton recovering from his race and taking P3.
Antonelli’s advantage in the World Drivers’ Championship grew to 84 points following Russell’s retirement, putting him in firm control of the championship.
