F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Verstappen wins chaotic race from Antonelli as Russell retires late on

Max Verstappen secured his first victory of the season in a chaotic, rain-affected Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia. The race was marred by software glitches and multiple red flags, ultimately resulting in a win for Verstappen ahead of Mercedes drivers.
Why it matters
Technical failures and weather conditions significantly impacted the race outcome, influencing the current Formula One championship standings.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won a disorderly Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, clinching his first victory of the season, as George Russell’s title hopes dwindled further with a late retirement.
After the race was delayed by an hour and a half due to dysfunctional software on a wet track, Verstappen outduelled both Mercedes to triumph as Russell was struck by a technical issue.
After a 40-minute delay due to a downpour, the formation lap began, with Isack Hadjar having a trip through the gravel as the whole field warmed up intermediate tyres. Several cars, including front-row starters Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, suffered software glitches that rendered throttle input ineffective. The red flag was waved, which delayed the race by a further 53 minutes.
Also covering this story
19 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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