Max Verstappen took the Bahrain Grand Prix, clinching his first season victory amid a chaotic race scuppered by software glitches and erratic tyre strategies.
Start‑line software failures stall leaders
An hour‑and‑a‑half delay began as throttle sensors failed for Verstappen and Hamilton on the wet formation lap, forcing a red flag that extended the stoppage by another 53 minutes.
Early tyre battle sets the pace
Only nine cars chose intermediate tyres before the first full‑speed start; those on slicks, such as Leclerc, Norris and Piastri, had to pit frequently when the track dried.
In response, Piastri, Bortoleto, Stroll and Hulkenberg switched from slicks to intermediates during the safety‑car restart.
Bottas incident triggers strategy shake‑up
Bottas’s loss of control in Turn 13 on lap 9 caused a safety‑car that let slick‑users move to the higher‑performance compound, redefining the leaderboard.
Antonelli inherited the lead, with Verstappen and Russell close behind; Antonelli held the podium spot briefly before a software‑related V‑SC neutralised the race again.
Final laps see Verstappen cement command
Verstappen widened his gap while Russell was forced to retire after a track‑side technical fault, leaving him unchallenged at the front.
Labour‑intensive battles saw Hamilton climb to sixth, Alonso secure eighth, and Bearman capture fourth; Ocon closed the field, finishing ahead of Albon.
Verstappen’s triumph not only defined the season’s opening chapter but also intensified the title fight, leaving Mercedes to regroup after Russell’s retirement.
Photo by: Joe Portlock / Getty Images
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