Winners and Losers from F1’s Bug-Ridden Bahrain GP in Malaysia

Verstappen and Red Bull Ford Powertrains Secure Historic Milestone in Malaysia

Despite a race weekend affected by software bugs, unpredictable weather shifts, and logistical hurdles, the Formula 1 event at Sepang delivered intense racing drama. At the center of the action was Max Verstappen, who converted pole position into a commanding victory for Red Bull Racing. The triumph marked the 72nd Grand Prix win of the Dutchman’s career and carried significant historical weight as the first victory for Red Bull Ford Powertrains as an independent engine manufacturer.

Red Bull entered the event looking to bounce back after a difficult outing at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Verstappen finished second as the team acknowledged they managed to do a great job messing it up. Unleashing the full capability of the aerodynamic package introduced in Baku, the sweeping layout of Sepang suited the Red Bull chassis. Navigating wet-to-dry track conditions and a mid-race safety car, Verstappen’s triumph rewarded the efforts of the 700-plus personnel at Milton Keynes, technical partners at Ford, and former team principal Christian Horner, while also vindicating Verstappen’s long-term contract commitment through 2030.

Mercedes and McLaren Falter in Tricky Mixed Conditions

In contrast to Red Bull’s success, Mercedes endured an exceptionally difficult weekend at the home track of title sponsor Petronas. The German marque introduced an upgraded aerodynamic package on the W17, but it failed to yield clear performance gains on the abrasive Sepang asphalt. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli managed to secure third place but openly questioned the car’s progress, stating, We don’t really know if it made us go faster or worse. George Russell suffered a late power unit failure that denied him a podium and severely dented his championship momentum following his Baku win.

McLaren faced similar operational and setup headaches. The high-downforce pace previously shown at circuits like Budapest, Zandvoort, and Madrid failed to materialize. Team principal Andrea Stella addressed the dip in form, explaining, The picture changed very rapidly. We have to take a look at our own development. We don’t see any anomaly in our data. But we have to acknowledge that potentially some competitors have developed their car with bigger steps than we did. It’s a very specific condition here in Malaysia, so I think we should give ourselves more time. Straight-line speed issues hindered reigning world champion Lando Norris, while Oscar Piastri crossed the line in sixth after both drivers started on slick tyres on a circuit that dried far slower than predicted.

Hamilton Rescues Podium as Alonso and Midfield Contenders Shine

Ferrari’s gamble to start Lewis Hamilton on slick tyres initially appeared disastrous. Reflecting on the opening laps, Hamilton said, As we pulled out [of the pits], all the spray came out the back of Max’s car and I was like: ‘Okay, I’m done. My race is really in trouble.’ Falling more than a full pitstop behind within two laps, Hamilton committed to the soft compound, capitalized on the safety car intervention, and charged through the field. For us to get back to the podium, I never thought that that was going to be the case, Hamilton admitted, later joking about the team’s initial strategy choice: I’m not going to go to the casino with the guys.

Further down the grid, Racing Bulls maximized their opportunities. Liam Lawson delivered a composed drive to lead the midfield pack, bolstering his bid to secure a 2026 race seat against Formula 2 contender Nikola Tsolov. Teammate Arvid Lindblad overcame an engine penalty to snatch tenth place on the final lap. That move cost Audi dearly, stripping Nico Hulkenberg of a hard-earned point after safety car timing had already spoiled his slick-tyre undercut strategy. Man, I was eating my steering wheel in that moment, Hulkenberg stated. Seriously, that sucked. I was feeling brave and like a hero in that moment, and made it work quite well. I think we could have undercut a few people there, but unfortunately, the safety car had other plans. Gabriel Bortoleto also incurred a 10-second penalty after clashing with Williams driver Carlos Sainz, leaving Audi racing director Allan McNish to lament: It was a bit frustrating to be overtaking in the last lap again, because that’s two races consecutively where we’ve been done in the last lap. And that’s a little bit frustrating.

Aston Martin experienced a productive afternoon courtesy of Fernando Alonso, who took advantage of the safety car to score points for the third time this season. There are not many weekends where we can score points and in those weekends we cannot have any mistakes, Alonso said. We cannot lose the opportunity, so we executed well today, so I’m happy for the team, for the points. Looking ahead to the upcoming round, Alonso added, Yeah, absolutely. I think Singapore on paper is better than Malaysia, so it’s encouraging for next weekend. It’s going to be an exciting next five days, waiting for the first qualifying session.

Why This Matters

The Malaysian Grand Prix marks a critical milestone in modern Formula 1 engine history. By taking victory at Sepang, Red Bull Ford Powertrains proved that a new engine program can win Grand Prix races against established automotive giants. Concurrently, technical struggles across both Mercedes and McLaren highlight the razor-thin margin for error under the current regulations, where minor aerodynamic inefficiencies and engine gremlins quickly alter championship dynamics heading into high-downforce street circuits like Singapore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Max Verstappen’s win at Sepang historic?

Verstappen’s 72nd Grand Prix victory marked the very first Formula 1 win for Red Bull Ford Powertrains as a new engine manufacturer, justifying the team’s long-term engine independence project.

What challenges did Mercedes face during the Grand Prix?

Mercedes struggled with setup balance on the rough Sepang track surface, experienced increased drag from their latest aerodynamic update, and suffered a critical late-race engine failure on George Russell’s car.

How did Lewis Hamilton finish on the podium after an early tyre gamble?

Despite dropping far behind the field on slick tyres during the damp start, Hamilton stayed on dry rubber, utilized a timely safety car deployment to clear unfavorable compound requirements, and cut through the pack with superior race pace.