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Verstappen wins chaotic Bahrain GP in Sepang after rain and software bug

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Neutral summary

Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix, held on October 4 at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, securing his first victory of the 2026 season. The start was delayed by almost 90 minutes after torrential rain flooded the track, and then a software bug caused many cars to crawl during the formation lap, with Lewis Hamilton stopping on track and having to restart his car. The FIA said the issue was a software error and teams had to install an update before the race could begin. Verstappen, who started from pole, led the race to the finish ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton, who recovered from the back of the grid after a failed early strategy to take third. Charles Leclerc finished fourth, and Isack Hadjar, who took fifth, described his own race as “catastrophic.” Lando Norris finished ninth and admitted fault for an error during a Safety Car period, while Gabriel Bortoleto apologised to Carlos Sainz after a collision. George Russell retired with an engine failure, damaging his slim title hopes. After the race, drivers including Verstappen, Norris and Russell criticised the FIA’s complex rules, and the governing body said it would investigate the software issue. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim thanked Bahrain for entrusting Malaysia with the race and said the country is considering a permanent return of F1 to Sepang, though FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said it would require a five-year business plan.

How it was framed

Outlets: 58. Countries: 23. Facts in the shared core: 6.

Publication timeline

  1. · La Repubblica (outlet profile)

    Diretta F1, Verstappen scatta dalla pole a Sepang: partenza ritardata per pioggia. Sul circuito della Malesia si corre il Gp del Bahrain

  2. · Terra (outlet profile)

    F1: Largada do GP do Bahrein na Malásia é atrasada devido à forte chuva. A largada do GP do Bahrein na Malásia foi atrasada neste domingo (04) devido às fortes chuvas ...

  3. · ANSA Sport (outlet profile)

    F1: Pioggia a Sepang, rinviata partenza del Gp del Bahrain. Un temporale ha inondato la pista malese

  4. · Telegraf (outlet profile)

    Odložen start trke u Maleziji! Zašto se Formula 1 više ne vozi po jakoj kiši?. TrkaFormule 1 za Veliku nagradu Bahreina, koja se ove nedelje vozi u Maleziji, počela je uz veliko kašnjenje zbog jake kiše koja pada na sta…

  5. · Malay Mail (outlet profile)

    Sepang deluge puts Bahrain Grand Prix on hold minutes before lights out. SEPANG, Oct 4 — The start of the Bahrain Grand Prix was delayed today after torrential rain swept across Sepang ju...

  6. · ТАСС (outlet profile)

    Начало гонки на этапе Гран-при Бахрейна "Формулы-1" отложили из-за дождя

  7. · Tanjug (outlet profile)

    F1: Odložen start Velike nagrade Bahreina na stazi u Sepangu

  8. · Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)

    Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang delayed due to heavy rain

  9. · Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)

    Bahrain Grand Prix gets underway at Sepang after long rain delay

  10. · Kurir (outlet profile)

    ODLOŽEN POČETAK TRKE FORMULE 1: Razlog je kiša i grmljavina!

  11. · La Vanguardia (outlet profile)

    Esperpento en Sepang: retrasada la carrera 40 minutos por un diluvio e inicio abortado por avería. Un problema general de 'software' de las unidades de potencia dejó 'congelados' a los coches en la vuelta de formación d…

  12. · ANSA Sport (outlet profile)

    Gp Bahrain: giro di formazione al via alle 15.40. Annuncio della Fia dopo la fine del temporale

  13. · ANSA Sport (outlet profile)

    Caos Gp Bahrain, problemi ad alcune monoposto e tutte richiamate in pit lane. Hamilton costretto a fermarsi, nuovo rinvio per la partenza

  14. · News.ru (outlet profile)

    Гонку на этапе Гран-при Бахрейна «Формулы-1» пришлось перенести. Начало гонки на этапе Гран-при Бахрейна «Формулы-1» решили отложить из-за дождя

  15. · ANSA Sport (outlet profile)

    F1: caos Gp Bahrain, problemi ad alcune monoposto e tutte richiamate in pit lane. Hamilton costretto a fermarsi, nuovo rinvio per la partenza

  16. · Pink (outlet profile)

    Nevreme poremetilo trku Formule 1: Start odložen zbog kiše i grmljavine. Zbog jake kiše i grmljavine, trka za Veliku nagradu Bahreina u Formuli 1 odložena je na stazi Sepang u Maleziji.

  17. · Terra (outlet profile)

    F1: Falha de software causa caos na volta de apresentação do GP do Bahrein na Malásia. O GP do Bahrein na Malásia viveu momentos de puro caos antes mesmo do início da prova em Sepang. ...

  18. · Ouest-France (outlet profile)

    VIDÉO F1. La pluie sème le chaos au GP de Bahreïn : drapeau rouge, départ retardé et incidents en cascades. La scène est cocasse. La pluie est venue troubler le début du Grand Prix de Formule 1 de Bahreïn, délocalisé en…

  19. · Malay Mail (outlet profile)

    From 3pm to 4.33pm: Bahrain Grand Prix finally gets new start time after Sepang downpour. SEPANG, Oct 4 — The Bahrain Grand Prix is now scheduled to start at 4.33pm today after torrential rain forced Form...

  20. · Tanjug (outlet profile)

    F1: Startovala trka za Veliku nagradu Bahreina

  21. · ANSA Sport (outlet profile)

    Gp Bahrain: scattato alle 10.40, Antonelli in testa. Scelte diverse per le gomme tra i piloti, con la pista ancora umida

  22. · The Independent (outlet profile)

    Heavy rain causes chaos at start of Bahrain Grand Prix. The race, staged in Malaysia, was delayed by 40 minutes before multiple cars broke down on the formation lap.

  23. · Le Parisien (outlet profile)

    F1, GP de Bahreïn en Malaisie : fortes pluies, pilotes à l’arrêt, départ retardé… Chaos total sur la piste de Sepang

  24. · Ouest-France (outlet profile)

    F1. Étanchéité douteuse, logiciels en rade... Sous le déluge à Sépang, une mauvaise pub pour les monoplaces électriques. Le Grand Prix de Bahreïn, délocalisé en Malaisie ce dimanche 4 octobre, aurait pu être le premier…

  25. · The Independent (outlet profile)

    F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia LIVE: Hamilton endures disastrous race start after heavy rain. Follow live F1 updates from the Sepang Circuit with the start of the race delayed due to a massive downpour

  26. · Terra (outlet profile)

    F1: Kimi Antonelli assume a liderança em largada caótica no GP do Bahrein na Malásia. Kimi Antonelli assumiu a liderança em largada caótica no GP do Bahrein na Malásia. O italiano ...

  27. · Terra (outlet profile)

    F1: Safety car entra na pista após escapada de Valtteri Bottas no GP do Bahrein na Malásia. O GP do Bahrein na Malásia teve seu primeiro acionamento para Safety Car na volta 10. Valtteri ...

  28. · Exame (outlet profile)

    Bahrein na Malásia: Verstappen volta a vencer e Antonelli fica ainda mais perto do título. A Red Bull vence pela primeira vez em 2026, Antonelli aumenta a vantagem sobre Russell e a Ferrari se aproxima da Mercedes. Rest…

  29. · Terra (outlet profile)

    F1: Max Verstappen lidera o GP do Bahrein na Malásia após saída do safety car. Após a relargada da corrida do GP do Bahrein na Malásia, Max Verstappen assume a liderança. O ...

  30. · ANSA Sport (outlet profile)

    F1, caos in Malesia: Verstappen in testa, davanti Antonelli e Russell. Hamilton quinto LIVE. Finita la safety car al 13mo giro l'olandese ha approfittato per andare in testa. Leclerc 10mo

Factual core

  • The Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix start was delayed due to rain at Sepang
  • Max Verstappen won the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.
  • The Bahrain Grand Prix was held in Malaysia at the Sepang circuit.
  • Max Verstappen won the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.
  • Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes finished second in the Bahrain Grand Prix.
  • The victory was Verstappen's first win of the season.

Full methodology →

In the daily issue: The day in brief — October 4, 2026

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