Formula 1 returned to Sepang for the first time since 2017 for a Bahrain Grand Prix that was delayed by torrential rain and a suspended start procedure. The race finally began on a wet but drying track, splitting the field between intermediate starters and those who gambled on slicks. Max Verstappen lost the lead to both Mercedes at the start but took it back and controlled the race for his and Red Bull's first win of 2026. Kimi Antonelli finished second, and Lewis Hamilton recovered from a slick-tyre start to third after George Russell retired from a podium place under the late Safety Car.
Pit-lane loss, degradation and overtaking are PITWALL simulator inputs for this circuit, not official figures.
| POS | Driver | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | 1:36.477 | 1:35.696 | 1:35.130 | 1 |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | 1:36.595 | 1:36.032 | 1:35.428 | 2 |
| 3 | Isack Hadjar | 1:36.898 | 1:36.192 | 1:35.558 | 8(+5 Penalty) |
| 4 | Kimi Antonelli | 1:37.041 | 1:35.959 | 1:35.631 | 3 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | 1:36.730 | 1:35.970 | 1:35.666 | 4 |
| 6 | Lando Norris | 1:37.092 | 1:36.173 | 1:35.757 | 5 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | 1:36.852 | 1:36.020 | 1:35.762 | 6 |
| 8 | George Russell | 1:37.264 | 1:36.245 | 1:35.871 | 7 |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly | 1:37.174 | 1:36.410 | 1:37.210 | 9 |
| 10 | Gabriel Bortoleto | 1:37.106 | 1:36.814 | 1:37.673 | 10 |
| 11 | Liam Lawson | 1:37.332 | 1:37.023 | — | 11 |
| 12 | Fernando Alonso | 1:37.721 | 1:37.220 | — | 12 |
| 13 | Carlos Sainz | 1:37.651 | 1:37.527 | — | 13 |
| 14 | Lance Stroll | 1:37.729 | 1:37.566 | — | 14 |
| 15 | Franco Colapinto | 1:37.179 | — | — | 21(+5 Penalty) |
| 16 | Arvid Lindblad | 1:37.883 | — | — | 22 |
| 17 | Nico Hulkenberg | 1:37.970 | — | — | 15 |
| 18 | Oliver Bearman | 1:37.980 | — | — | 16 |
| 19 | Esteban Ocon | 1:38.233 | — | — | 17 |
| 20 | Alexander Albon | 1:38.600 | — | — | 18 |
| 21 | Valtteri Bottas | 1:38.611 | — | — | 19 |
| 22 | Sergio Perez | 1:38.933 | — | — | 20 |
Places gained or lost between the starting grid (after penalties) and the flag, for 19 of 19 classified drivers.
Strategy and race factors that shaped the result for drivers who finished behind Max Verstappen.
Simulator replay is unavailable for this race: some drivers changed tyres more than twice, and the simulator replay link can carry at most two stops per car.
| POS | Driver | Strategy | Time | Gap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing | I | 1:47:14.808 | Leader | — |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | I→ML9→SL33→SL44 | 1:47:17.115 | +2.307 | — |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | I | 1:47:19.727 | +4.919 | — |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | I | 1:47:22.066 | +7.258 | — |
| 5 | Isack Hadjar Red Bull Racing | I | 1:47:23.379 | +8.571 | — |
| 6 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | I | 1:47:24.262 | +9.454 | — |
| 7 | Liam Lawson Racing Bulls | I | 1:47:27.561 | +12.753 | — |
| 8 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | I | 1:47:28.180 | +13.372 | — |
| 9 | Lando Norris McLaren | I | 1:47:28.801 | +13.993 | — |
| 10 | Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls | I | 1:47:30.736 | +15.928 | — |
| 11 | Nico Hulkenberg Audi | I | 1:47:32.212 | +17.404 | — |
| 12 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | I | 1:47:32.860 | +18.052 | — |
| 13 | Franco Colapinto Alpine | I | 1:47:33.805 | +18.997 | — |
| 14 | Oliver Bearman Haas | I | 1:47:37.113 | +22.305 | — |
| 15 | Esteban Ocon Haas | I | 1:47:37.340 | +22.532 | — |
| 16 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | I | 1:47:38.123 | +23.315 | — |
| 17 | Carlos Sainz Williams | I | 1:47:40.239 | +25.431 | — |
| 18 | Gabriel Bortoleto Audi | I | 1:47:43.041 | +28.233 | — |
| 19 | Sergio Perez Cadillac | S→IL1→ML2→HL9→HL18→ML21→SL39 | 1:47:44.118 | +29.310 | — |
| 20 | George Russell Mercedes | I | — | DNF | — |
| 21 | Alexander Albon Williams | I | — | DNF | — |
| 22 | Valtteri Bottas Cadillac | S | — | DNF | — |