Lawson scores again as Verstappen wins rain-hit Sepang race
Words: Kyle Cassidy
Liam Lawson has added another points finish to his 2026 Formula 1 campaign, taking seventh in a rain-disrupted Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia as Max Verstappen claimed his first victory of the season.
The result was Lawson’s 11th points return from 16 races this year and keeps the Racing Bulls driver ninth in the championship. He remains the highest-placed driver outside Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull.
Heavy rain delayed the start at Sepang International Circuit by more than 90 minutes, leaving teams to weigh up intermediate tyres against slicks as conditions changed. Racing Bulls’ decision to put Lawson on intermediates paid off immediately.
Starting 11th, the Kiwi picked his way through the opening scramble to run fourth, setting up what he described as one of the strongest starts of his career.
“Very happy. The car’s been very good, it was strong in the race. I had one of the best starts I’ve ever had in my career, and that put us in a great position for the rest of the race.”
Lawson could not maintain that early position as the race developed and eventually slipped to ninth. Two late setbacks ahead of him helped restore seventh: George Russell retired with a suspected power-unit problem, while Lando Norris ran off the circuit and lost places.
“I’m happy with seventh. I was thinking we deserved more, and then we got lucky at the end with a couple of guys not finishing,” Lawson said.
At the front, Verstappen’s win gave Red Bull its first victory with its own power unit. It also marked a successful return to Sepang for the Dutchman, who won the circuit’s previous Formula 1 race in 2017.
Despite starting from pole, Verstappen lost out to both Mercedes drivers on the run to the first corner. Kimi Antonelli took the lead from third on the grid, while Russell surged from seventh to second.
Verstappen began rebuilding his race by passing Russell, then took advantage of the restart following Valtteri Bottas’ spin to overtake Antonelli. He subsequently established a comfortable lead, helped by the Mercedes pair battling each other and Antonelli running wide at the final corner.
“It’s a really nice one after the year that we’ve had and the progression that we’ve made. So I’m incredibly proud of everyone. It is super nice to win here,” said Verstappen.
A late safety car, triggered by Alex Albon’s stranded Williams, compressed the field and set up a four-lap dash to the finish.
Lewis Hamilton recovered from an early tyre gamble that left him 18th to claim third, passing Isack Hadjar in the closing stages. Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc also overtook Hadjar to secure fourth, leaving the Red Bull driver fifth ahead of Oscar Piastri.
Fernando Alonso finished eighth behind Lawson, delivering Aston Martin’s best result of the season.
Antonelli held off Hamilton for second. With Russell retiring five laps from the finish, the championship leader now has an 84-point advantage over his Mercedes teammate.
