Max Verstappen navigates start chaos to triumph in Bahrain Grand Prix

Max Verstappen triumphed in a dramatic Bahrain Grand Prix (David Davies/PA)

Max Verstappen won a rain-hit Bahrain Grand Prix which was farcically delayed by one hour and 33 minutes after multiple cars broke down in the wet conditions before George Russell’s outside world championship bid was derailed by a late engine failure.

Verstappen navigated his way through the chaos to claim his first triumph of the year. Kimi Antonelli took second with Lewis Hamilton completing a fine comeback drive from 18th to take the final spot on the podium. Russell had been running in third when he retired with just five laps left to leave his title dream all but over.

But the race at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia was overshadowed by embarrassing scenes when this season’s new cars – which had already faced stern criticism – effectively failed to work in the wet.

Forty minutes after the initial getaway was pushed back following a deluge of rain, Formula One bosses had to abandon the start when number of drivers, including Verstappen and Hamilton, were struck by software gremlins – directly linked to the controversial 50-50 split between combustion and battery power – and could not get their cars to operate.

The grid limped back to the pit-lane, and although the rain had long since stopped, a further 53 minutes passed before the green light was given by the sport’s chiefs to try again. An explanation for the lengthy delay was not offered. And by now, the track was largely dry.

Two laps followed behind the safety car before a standing start. Verstappen slipped to third but cleared Antonelli after another safety car period on the 13th lap and took the chequered flag 2.3 seconds clear of the championship leader. Russell’s failure to finish leaves him 84 points behind Antonelli with only seven scheduled races, and a possible 183 points remaining.