Max Verstappen is the F1 Bahrain champion at Sepang

KUCHING: Max Verstappen won Formula 1’s last race at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) in 2017. Nine years later, he came back and did it again.

The Red Bull driver converted pole into victory at the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday (Oct 4), with Kimi Antonelli taking second for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton completing the podium in third.

The win was Verstappen’s first of the 2026 season and Red Bull Racing’s first of the campaign.

Rain delayed the scheduled 3 pm start, but once the 55-lap race settled, Verstappen began putting daylight between himself and the chasing pack.

By Lap 25, his advantage had stretched beyond five seconds before growing to around 7.5 seconds.

Antonelli kept him within sight and emerged as Verstappen’s closest challenger, but the Dutchman kept control through the changing conditions and never gave the Mercedes youngster enough of an opening.

Hamilton followed them home in third.

For Verstappen, it completed a remarkable Sepang double separated by nine years.

He was 20 when he won the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, beating Hamilton just days after his birthday.

This time, having turned 29 on Sept 30, he returned to the same circuit and walked away with another win.

Sunday also capped Verstappen’s strongest weekend of the year after he claimed his first pole of the season with a 1:35.130 lap in qualifying.

Sepang’s return came under unusual circumstances, with Malaysia hosting the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix rather than reviving its own Formula 1 event.

Different Grand Prix. Nine years apart.

At Sepang, it’s a full circle moment for the Dutchman.