For the first time in 2026, Max Verstappen is victorious. After taking pole position yesterday, Verstappen’s bid for glory was delayed by the weather. The race eventually started after three laps behind the safety car, by which time the rain had stopped. However, large portions of the Sepang International Circuit were still wet, prompting a flurry of different strategies. Red Bull opted for the intermediate tyres, which turned out to be the correct call. Verstappen was blindsided by the fast-starting Mercedes but kept his head during the opening exchanges and, after switching to the softs under a safety car, reclaimed the lead from Kimi Antonelli on lap 12. From there, it was vintage Verstappen. The four-time world champion steadily increased his lead, didn’t flinch during a late-race safety car, and came home 2.3 seconds clear for his 72nd career win. His first since Abu Dhabi 2025. With this result, Verstappen has drawn level with Norris in the drivers’ standings. It may be too late for a title charge, but if recent form is anything to go by, P3 could be within Verstappen’s grasp.
Behind him, Antonelli prevailed after an intra-team battle. After losing second to George Russell on lap 12, Antonelli held his nerve and regained the initiative nine laps later. Russell looked set for a podium until his power unit failed behind the safety car on lap 50. With Antonelli in second, the championship deficit has now grown to 84 points. Having endured more than his fair share of bad luck this year, Russell’s flickering title aspirations are now effectively gone.
Lewis Hamilton did things the hard way. Both Ferraris went for slicks at the start; as a result, both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc tumbled out of the points. The seven-time world champion stuck to his guns and remained on the softs until lap 32. He subsequently flew on the new set, caught and passed Isack Hadjar for fourth, and eventually inherited the final podium spot after Russell’s misfortune. A hard-earned result given his tumultuous race.
On the other side of the garage, Leclerc tangled with Nico Hulkenberg at the start and was unable to make his tyres last as long as his teammate. Even so, the Monegasque found some pace as the track dried and eventually finished fourth to cap off a solid race for Ferrari. Further back, Isack Hadjar spent much of the race in podium contention but couldn't match the Ferraris in the closing stages. Even so, he secured a valuable fifth. Oscar Piastri gambled on an early switch to intermediates and had a lengthy battle with RB's Liam Lawson. Piastri seized sixth with Lawson right behind him.
Fernando Alonso was another to start on the softs, a decision that vaulted him up the grid. The Aston Martin retained pace in the dry, and Alonso passed Arvid Lindblad en route to eighth, both his and the team’s best result of the season so far. Lando Norris had a wayward moment behind the safety car on lap 50 and had to settle for ninth, one place ahead of Lindblad, who helped his team tighten their grip on fifth place in the constructors’ standings.
Nico Hulkenberg survived an early coming together with Leclerc but had to settle for 11th (the ninth time Audi has finished there this season). Lance Stroll secured his best result of the season in 12th ahead of Franco Colapinto, Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon. Carlos Sainz finished 17th after being spun around by Gabriel Bortoleto, who received a ten-second time penalty for the incident. Sergio Perez was the last car over the line; Alex Albon suffered a gearbox failure on lap 43, while Valtteri Bottas spun out of contention on lap seven.
The title battle is now all but over. However, with Verstappen back on the pace, Ferrari on form and McLaren hungry for results, a four-way battle for third in the driver standings is starting to form.
