Verstappen wins rain-hit Malaysian GP, gives Red Bull first 2026 win
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 4, 2026
Race turns on changing conditions
Max Verstappen won the rain-hit Malaysian Grand Prix from pole position. The start was delayed by rain, and the track kept moving from one grip level to another as the field tried to settle in. Verstappen finished 2.307 seconds ahead of Kimi Antonelli and regained the lead after the restart. A Safety Car came out after Valtteri Bottas spun early, which added another layer to a race that already demanded quick decisions from drivers and crews. The result came after the opening laps and the first major interruption.
Strategy swings shape race
The race turned into a straight test of tire calls as teams jumped between intermediate and slick tires. That pushed the pace and the order around throughout the afternoon, with the changing surface forcing drivers to adapt lap by lap. Lewis Hamilton recovered from the early order to finish third for Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc took fourth for Ferrari. Ferrari placed two cars near the front. George Russell retired late. Lando Norris finished ninth, and Arvid Lindblad took 10th to claim the final points position. The final classification reflected a race where track conditions mattered as much as raw speed, and the timing of each tire change carried real weight.
Antonelli tops final practice
Antonelli set the pace in final practice at Sepang with a 1:36.302 lap and ended the session 0.278 seconds clear of Verstappen. Isack Hadjar briefly led the session before Antonelli went back to the top, which kept the front of the timing sheet tight throughout the run. Final practice was dry despite earlier rain concerns. Final practice also paused for eight minutes after debris came off Oliver Bearman’s Haas, triggering a red flag and stopping the action while marshals cleared the track. Antonelli’s lap stood out because he delivered it in a session that featured interruptions, a brief change at the top and a dry surface.
