Ankara:Max Verstappen clinched victory at the rain-affected Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on Sunday, marking the first win of the 2026 Formula 1 season for both himself and the Red Bull team.

According to Anadolu Agency, the race saw Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli finish in second place, bolstering his lead in the drivers' championship following the retirement of his teammate and title rival George Russell. Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, made a remarkable comeback from 18th to secure the third spot on the podium.

The race was delayed due to heavy rain, which also influenced tire strategy as drivers switched from intermediate to slick tires. Verstappen, though starting from pole, initially fell behind Antonelli and Russell but regained the lead as the race progressed.

Hamilton's race was affected by an early decision to switch to slick tires, which backfired, causing him to drop to 18th place. However, he managed to recover and overtook Red Bull's Isack Hadjar late in the race to finish third.

Russell, who was running third, suffered a power unit failure with five laps to go, forcing him to retire. This setback increased Russell's deficit to Antonelli in the championship standings to 84 points.

Other finishers included Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Isack Hadjar in fourth and fifth, respectively. McLaren's Oscar Piastri took sixth place, while Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso finished seventh and eighth.

The Formula 1 season continues next weekend with the Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.