All articles tagged with #bahrain gp
Max Verstappen won his first race of the 2026 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia, finishing ahead of Kimi Antonelli. The event was marked by a 90-minute delay due to software failures in wet conditions and a late retirement for George Russell, which effectively ended his title hopes.
Max Verstappen secured Red Bull's first victory of the 2026 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, winning a chaotic race at Sepang. The event was marked by a 90-minute delay due to heavy rain and technical software failures that left cars crawling on formation laps. Verstappen dominated the race, finishing ahead of Kimi Antonelli, while Lewis Hamilton staged a remarkable comeback to take third. George Russell's retirement with a power unit failure effectively ended his title hopes, leaving Antonelli with an 84-point lead.
Kimi Antonelli secured a third-place grid start for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia after a grid penalty for Isack Hadjar. The Mercedes driver initially believed he was fourth but reacted with visible relief upon learning of the promotion. Antonelli acknowledged Red Bull’s pace advantage but expressed confidence in managing track position and tire wear to compete for the podium or win.
Max Verstappen secured his first pole position of the 2026 season at the rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, edging out Lewis Hamilton by 0.298 seconds. Kimi Antonelli will start third after Isack Hadjar received a grid penalty. Mercedes struggled with tyre degradation, while Ferrari showed significant pace improvements.
Max Verstappen emerged as the fastest driver in long-run simulations during Friday practice for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, Malaysia. While Red Bull showed strong race pace, Mercedes struggled to evaluate a new upgrade package amidst high tyre wear. McLaren faced unexpected issues in the second sector, and Audi showed improved performance compared to the previous race in Baku.
The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, relocated to Sepang, Malaysia, faced severe track degradation during Friday practice. Pirelli reported that one-lap times were up to 4.5 seconds slower than simulations due to 'sandpaper' tarmac shedding stones. While the surface is degrading rapidly, officials deem it manageable for safety, though it may alter qualifying versus race performance balances.
Friday practice at the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, held at Sepang in Malaysia, was dominated by extreme tyre wear and unpredictable weather. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen led the long-run simulations, while Mercedes struggled with a new upgrade package. The race is a substitute for the cancelled Bahrain event, featuring unique logistical and branding adjustments.
Oscar Piastri rejected concerns that off-track friendships weaken competitive edge, citing a recent holiday with rivals. The trip involved drivers from multiple teams, including his McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Piastri confirmed McLaren CEO Zak Brown did not contact him about the event, which occurred between the Azerbaijan and Bahrain GPs.
The Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, relocated to Malaysia’s Sepang circuit due to the Middle East conflict, has been officially declared a heat-hazard race. This is the third such designation of the 2026 season, following events in Austria and Italy. Drivers face forecast temperatures of 31-33C with high humidity, prompting the use of cooling vests or mandatory ballast. The event also raises concerns about chaotic racing conditions, with the Sepang track known for its demanding nature and potential for rain.
F1 and the FIA have canceled the April Bahrain and Jeddah Grand Prix races due to the US-Israel war on Iran and escalating Gulf tensions, with no replacement races planned and a five-week gap before the Miami round. The decision also wipes out FIA F2, F3 and F1 Academy rounds; WEC has moved its Qatar round and MotoGP is seeking to reschedule Doha. Officials emphasize safety and look forward to returning when circumstances allow.
F1 is expected to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix after a logistics deadline amid escalating Middle East tensions; replacing them with European rounds isn’t considered feasible, leaving a six‑week gap in the calendar and a likely hit to revenue, though the season would still meet the minimum race count. An official decision was anticipated within 48 hours.
Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo disagreed over a team order during the F1 Bahrain GP, where Tsunoda was asked to let Ricciardo pass to attack a rival. Tsunoda initially disputed the call but eventually complied, expressing his confusion and desire to review the decision. Ricciardo, on the other hand, expected the swap based on pre-race strategy discussions and felt the call was no surprise. He also expressed willingness to swap back if necessary. The disagreement affected Ricciardo's race, as he felt the delay in the swap hindered his chances of overtaking rivals.
Max Verstappen expressed his delight with a flawless performance at the Bahrain F1 GP, leading from start to finish and securing the fastest lap bonus point. His Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez finished second, while Carlos Sainz took third. Verstappen praised the car's performance and his seamless race, stating that it "couldn't have been better." Perez also acknowledged the challenges of tire management but was satisfied with his second-place finish as a strong start to the season.
Red Bull's dominant preseason performance seemed to falter during the Bahrain GP qualifying session, with Max Verstappen securing pole position by a narrow margin. However, the race pace of Red Bull in practice sessions suggests they still hold an advantage over their rivals, despite Mercedes showing strong performance. The close competition and uncertainty surrounding race pace make for an intriguing Bahrain Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz topped the final practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix, edging out Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen. Unrepresentative track conditions limited the session's value, but provided track time for teams to finalize preparations. Lewis Hamilton initially led before others took turns at the top, with Sainz ultimately setting the fastest time. Lando Norris and George Russell also showed strong pace, while Pierre Gasly struggled with the slowest time.