Samwise F1 Newsletter
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Verstappen Wins Chaotic Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia as Russell Retires
Max Verstappen won the rain-hit Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at Sepang on Sunday, his 72nd career victory and the first for the Red Bull-Ford alliance. The race finished more than three hours after its scheduled start. Kimi Antonelli was second, 2.3 seconds behind, and Lewis Hamilton took third after his gamble on slick tyres first dropped him to the back. Charles Leclerc, Isack Hadjar, Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10. George Russell retired behind a late Safety Car with a suspected power unit issue. Alex Albon and Valtteri Bottas also failed to finish.
Rain and Power Unit Failures Bring Chaos to Sepang Start
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia began in chaos on Sunday after thunderstorms broke over Sepang roughly 45 minutes before the planned start, which was delayed by 40 minutes. When the field left the grid, Isack Hadjar went off at Turn 3, then polesitter Max Verstappen lost the ability to accelerate. Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and both Cadillac and Audi drivers suffered similar power unit problems before officials threw the red flag. Sky Sports F1’s Anthony Davidson said slow running let turbos spool down and drained batteries. Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord confirmed the FIA has sent software updates to the teams.
Verstappen Beats Hamilton to First Red Bull Pole of 2026
Max Verstappen claimed Red Bull’s first pole position of the season on Saturday, topping every segment of qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at Sepang. His best lap was 0.298s faster than Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, putting the pair on the front row together for the first time since Hungary 2023. Isack Hadjar qualified third but started eighth after a five-place penalty for a new internal combustion engine. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli started third after a Q2 track limits deletion forced Mercedes to use an extra set of tyres. Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri lined up next, with George Russell seventh.
Sources: Sky Sports
Wolff Orders Data Review After Mercedes Upgrade Falls Flat
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the team must work through its data after its upgraded W17 lost ground in qualifying at Sepang. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was half a second off Max Verstappen’s pole time in fourth, while George Russell qualified eighth. Wolff said the car showed behaviour not seen all year, losing a lot of time on the straights and suffering too much understeer through the low-speed Turn 2. “You’re expecting three tenths to kick in, and it looks like three or four or five tenths backwards,” Wolff said. He added that the team still believes the upgrade works and will find a solution.
Hamilton Credits Late Set-Up Change for Front-Row Start
Lewis Hamilton said one last set-up change before qualifying helped Ferrari “hit the sweet spot” as he took second on the grid at Sepang, 0.298 seconds behind Max Verstappen. It was his best qualifying result since June’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Hamilton said the heat, sliding cars and overheating tyres made balance hard to find, adding that Ferrari had expected fifth or sixth this weekend. He said Ferrari is losing three or four tenths to Red Bull on the straights, and that small changes such as one click of front wing make a big difference. “The car felt great,” he said.
Hadjar, Colapinto and Lindblad Take Grid Penalties at Sepang
Three drivers carried grid penalties into the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, third fastest in qualifying, takes a five-place drop for exceeding his maximum number of power unit components and started eighth. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto received a five-place drop for colliding with Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris, plus a further 10 places for power unit components, leaving him 21st. Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad received a 30-place drop for power unit components and started 22nd. Neither Colapinto nor Lindblad set a time in Q2. The final grid put Kimi Antonelli third and Charles Leclerc fourth.
Domenicali Insists Qatar and Abu Dhabi Will Close the 2026 Season
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says the season will still end with races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, despite months of concern over unrest in the Middle East. Speaking to Sky Italy at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Domenicali said: “the calendar is confirmed: the last two Grands Prix will be in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.” He said the direction is based on information and reassurances that F1 “absolutely must have.” Imola has been tabbed as a potential replacement for Abu Dhabi and has begun preparations in case it is needed. GPFans reports that some team principals expect a final decision on the races in mid-October.
Stroll Handed Two Warnings as Aston Martin Reach Q2 for First Time
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll received two warnings from the FIA stewards for driving unnecessarily slowly in Q1 and Q2 at Sepang. Stroll and the team told the stewards the power unit configuration requires a specific out-lap procedure, making the prescribed SC2–SC1 time particularly demanding at this circuit. The stewards noted he complied on at least one other out-lap and ruled the standard warning appropriate. It was still Aston Martin’s best qualifying of the year: both cars reached Q2 for the first time this season, with Fernando Alonso 12th and Stroll a season’s best 14th. “This track suits us,” Stroll said.
Norris Admits McLaren Is Just Slow After Sepang Qualifying
Lando Norris gave a blunt verdict on McLaren’s pace after he and Oscar Piastri qualified sixth and seventh for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, six tenths short of pole. “No, we’re just slow,” Norris said when asked whether anything had held the team back. He said the Sepang tarmac is very different to other tracks this year, shaking up the order, with Mercedes struggling and Red Bull quicker than usual. Norris said he was satisfied with his own lap but that the car’s performance is a long way off. He added that a long race with pit stops could still offer opportunities.
Honda Confirms Secret Turbo Upgrade Under FIA Catch-Up Scheme
Honda has confirmed it introduced its second upgrade under the FIA’s ADUO catch-up scheme, a new turbocharger, at last month’s Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, fitted to Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin. Fernando Alonso ran the new turbo for the first time at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The ADUO system helps struggling manufacturers, and Honda’s internal combustion engine ranked last after the first two checkpoints. Speaking ahead of the race at Sepang, Honda’s Shintaro Orihara said the turbo improves driveability, reduces lag at corner exit and aids energy management. “Still, I’m not talking about a big number,” he said.
Vowles Backs Vasseur as Ferrari Leadership Questions Continue
Williams team principal James Vowles defended Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur during the team principals’ press conference at Sepang, as questions about Vasseur’s future continued. Vowles said Ferrari is “in the best place it’s been in the championship for a while” and that “there is no question that Fred is the right person to do this.” Ferrari’s chief communication officer Maria Conti had told a media briefing the team has “full confidence” in Vasseur. Vasseur said he expected scrutiny when he took the role but that “sometimes the attacks are a bit personal.” Alpine’s Flavio Briatore said media attention on Ferrari is very high.
After Round 15 — the Azerbaijan Grand Prix (official standings before Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia; updated table pending)
Drivers’ Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | 302 |
| 2 | George Russell | 236 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | 199 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | 186 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | 179 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | 163 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | 120 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | 86 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | 59 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | 41 |
| 11 | Arvid Lindblad | 37 |
| 12 | Franco Colapinto | 27 |
| 13 | Oliver Bearman | 20 |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | 10 |
| 15 | Nico Hulkenberg | 7 |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | 7 |
| 17 | Carlos Sainz | 7 |
| 18 | Alexander Albon | 5 |
| 19 | Fernando Alonso | 3 |
| 20 | Yuki Tsunoda | 1 |
| 21 | Lance Stroll | 0 |
| 22 | Valtteri Bottas | 0 |
| 23 | Sergio Perez | 0 |
Constructors’ Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 538 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 378 |
| 3 | McLaren | 306 |
| 4 | Red Bull Racing | 263 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 83 |
| 6 | Alpine | 68 |
| 7 | Haas F1 Team | 27 |
| 8 | Audi | 17 |
| 9 | Williams | 12 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency