Verstappen wins in Malaysia as Antonelli extends title lead to 84 points

Max Verstappen claimed his and Red Bull's first victory of the year at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, winning ahead of Kimi Antonelli after a prolonged delay to the start. BBC Sport reported that Lewis Hamilton completed the podium following a recovery from 17th place, while George Russell retired late in the race with a suspected engine problem.

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Antonelli's second place increased his championship lead over Mercedes team-mate Russell to 84 points. Russell had been running third before stopping with five laps remaining, during a safety-car period. His retirement left Antonelli with a substantially larger advantage, although the BBC report listed either six or seven races still to come rather than a settled number of remaining rounds.

The start was delayed by an hour and a half, first because of heavy rain and then because several cars developed problems during formation laps behind the safety car. Verstappen and Hamilton were among the drivers whose cars could only travel slowly. BBC Sport said initial indications pointed to a software update issued by the FIA during the delay, but the governing body had not responded to requests for comment. The cars eventually started in their original order.

Antonelli and Russell moved ahead of front-row starters Verstappen and Hamilton when racing began. The Mercedes drivers and Verstappen used intermediate tyres on the wet circuit, while Hamilton's choice of soft slicks left him struggling and nearly a minute behind the leaders in the opening laps. Verstappen regained second from Russell on lap six, before Valtteri Bottas spun his Cadillac at Turn 13 on lap nine and triggered a safety car.

The leaders used that interruption to change to slick tyres. Verstappen passed Antonelli at Turn Four after the restart, with Russell also moving ahead of his team-mate. Antonelli reclaimed the position from Russell on lap 21, but Verstappen stayed in control. A later safety car for Alex Albon's stranded Williams brought fresh tyre changes and a four-lap run to the finish without costing Verstappen the lead.

Hamilton remained on his original soft tyres through the first safety-car period and worked back through the field. He later spent several laps behind Isack Hadjar before the final interruption allowed him to switch from medium tyres back to softs. Hamilton passed Hadjar at Turn One with three laps left to secure third. Charles Leclerc also overtook Hadjar in the closing stages, leaving the Red Bull driver fifth ahead of Oscar Piastri.