2026 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix 199
Follow Ferrari at the relocated 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, exceptionally being held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. This archive covers practice, qualifying and the race, alongside strategy, tyre performance, technical analysis and every major development involving Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Ferrari. For full event history, circuit context, records and Ferrari’s past Bahrain Grand Prix performances, visit our Bahrain Grand Prix circuit guide.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton offer contrasting verdicts on Ferrari SF-26 after Sepang
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc left the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang with the same strong Ferrari result but sharply different assessments of where the SF-26 stands. Hamilton believes the team has fundamentally produced a strong car that is still improving, while Leclerc is concerned Ferrari is losing performance relative to Red Bull and Mercedes and says further upgrades will eventually be required.
The contrast emerged after an extraordinary race in Malaysia in which both Ferrari drivers had to recover from severe early setbacks. Hamilton climbed from 18th to third after committing to slick tyres in difficult conditions, while Leclerc recovered to fourth after a disastrous opening phase that also involved a puncture and front-wing damage.
Lewis Hamilton remains optimistic about Ferrari’s SF-26
Ferrari had created its own problems by starting both cars on slick tyres after the original start procedure was abandoned following a chaotic formation lap. The choice proved costly on the wet track, but Hamilton elected not to immediately abandon the strategy and eventually fought his way back onto the podium.
Martin Brundle was particularly impressed by the seven-time world champion’s recovery as he cut through the field. Hamilton also displayed strong underlying pace in the SF-26, while Leclerc ultimately finished only just over three seconds behind his teammate despite experiencing a much more difficult race.
Speaking after the Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton gave a positive assessment of Ferrari’s current package. He believes the team fundamentally has a very good car and credited the personnel at Maranello for making intelligent decisions during its development.
The Briton also highlighted Ferrari’s technical innovation during the season, noting that some concepts introduced by the Scuderia were subsequently followed by rivals. Readers can explore the development of the car in the dedicated Ferrari technical analysis section.
Hamilton nevertheless acknowledged an important limitation. In his assessment, Ferrari remains down on power and must work to close that deficit for next season. Because that shortfall will remain for the rest of 2026, the focus is on continuing to improve the car and trying to move closer to the front at circuits that may offer better opportunities.
Despite that constraint, Hamilton remains encouraged by the direction of the SF-26 and continues to enjoy the racing. More updates on his campaign are available in the dedicated Lewis Hamilton Ferrari section.
Charles Leclerc says Ferrari needs upgrades
Charles Leclerc offered a considerably more cautious assessment of Ferrari’s prospects for the remainder of the season. Looking towards Singapore, the Monegasque hopes the team can improve, but he is concerned by a trend that has developed across several recent Grands Prix.
Leclerc pointed out that Ferrari has raced on circuits with different characteristics over the previous two or three rounds, yet he believes the team has still been losing some performance relative to Red Bull and Mercedes. That pattern has convinced him that upgrades will eventually be necessary because the SF-26 is not currently delivering the level of performance Ferrari wants.
His concerns were also influenced by his own difficult experience at Sepang. Leclerc explained that he did not have a good feeling with the car and encountered considerable inconsistency, making it difficult to extract its maximum potential. His opening stint was then made even more complicated by the slick-tyre choice, a puncture and the damaged front wing.
The latest developments surrounding the Monegasque and his Ferrari season can be followed in the dedicated Charles Leclerc news section.
Hamilton and Leclerc reach different conclusions from the same Ferrari result
The most striking aspect of the post-race assessments is that both drivers experienced the same Ferrari package at Sepang yet drew different conclusions about the wider competitive picture. Hamilton emphasised the underlying quality of the car, its development direction and the work being done at the factory. Leclerc focused more heavily on the relative loss of performance against Red Bull and Mercedes and the need for further development.
Those positions are not necessarily contradictory on every point. Hamilton also acknowledged Ferrari’s power deficit, while Leclerc did not argue that the car lacks all potential. However, their emphasis is clearly different: one sees reasons for optimism in the current package, while the other believes the recent trend demonstrates that additional performance must be brought to the car.
Lewis Hamilton extends Ferrari lead over Charles Leclerc
The difference in perspective comes as the internal Ferrari championship battle becomes increasingly significant. With seven Grands Prix remaining in 2026, Hamilton has extended his advantage over Leclerc to 23 points following their third- and fourth-place finishes in Malaysia.
Hamilton now sits third in the championship with 214 points, while Leclerc is fourth on 191. The British driver also leads their season podium comparison by six to four, although the pair remain level with one Grand Prix victory each.
The evolving teammate battle can be followed through the ScuderiaFans Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton F1 head-to-head statistics, which track championship points, race results, qualifying and other performance measures across the 2026 season.
Their competition has also been accompanied by tension during the year around Ferrari’s leadership, direction and the question of number-one driver status. With seven races still to run, both have time to strengthen their position within the team and settle the season-long sporting contest on track.
Hamilton’s lead may also have been larger had Ferrari made a different tyre decision at Sepang, where he believed the correct starting compound could have put him in contention for another victory. Instead, the race produced a major recovery for both drivers and, perhaps more importantly for Ferrari’s immediate future, two noticeably different interpretations of what the team needs next.
The remaining opportunities for both drivers can be followed through the 2026 Formula 1 calendar as Ferrari heads into the final seven Grands Prix of the season.
Kimi Antonelli explains what Lewis Hamilton’s Malaysia recovery says about his legacy
Kimi Antonelli believes Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable recovery at Sepang highlighted the resilience that has helped the seven-time world champion make Formula 1 history. The Ferrari driver fell from the front row to 17th place during a disastrous opening phase of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, yet still recovered to secure the final podium position.
Hamilton’s afternoon had already been complicated before the race properly began. A software problem brought him to a halt during the formation lap, before Ferrari’s decision to start on slick tyres in wet conditions left him around one minute and 20 seconds behind the leader at one stage.
Kimi Antonelli impressed by Lewis Hamilton’s refusal to give up
A Safety Car eventually erased much of that deficit and gave Hamilton an opportunity to rebuild his race. From there, the British driver began working his way through the field car by car, with his progress culminating in a late pass on Isack Hadjar for third place.
The recovery was particularly striking because other drivers attempting to regain ground, including Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc, found progress more difficult. Hamilton’s most serious resistance came when he reached Hadjar, who at one point asked his Red Bull pit wall how the Ferrari driver was able to maintain such strong pace.
The full sequence behind the comeback, including the strategic decisions that helped Hamilton return to the podium, is covered in our report on Lewis Hamilton’s recovery to third at Sepang.
Lewis Hamilton’s resilience stands out to Kimi Antonelli
After finishing second, Kimi Antonelli was asked in the post-race press conference what could be learned from Hamilton’s experience and his ability to keep fighting when circumstances turn against him.
The Mercedes driver explained that sharing the circuit with both Max Verstappen and Hamilton was special because of their influence on Formula 1 history. In Antonelli’s assessment, Hamilton has already played a defining role in shaping the sport’s record books, while Verstappen is continuing to build his own place in that history.
Antonelli also highlighted a quality he believes has been visible throughout Hamilton’s career. Even when a race or weekend develops badly, the Briton tends to remain focused and continue working towards the strongest possible result rather than allowing the setback to define the outcome.
Sepang provided a clear example. Hamilton had effectively lost most of the advantage of his front-row start after the software issue and Ferrari’s slick-tyre gamble, yet he was still able to turn the afternoon into one of his strongest performances since joining the Maranello team.
Lewis Hamilton extends all-time Formula 1 podium record
Hamilton ultimately believed an even bigger result had been available. He felt victory could have been possible had Ferrari started the race on Intermediate tyres, as Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen did, rather than committing to slicks while the circuit remained wet.
Despite that frustration, the comeback extended Lewis Hamilton’s all-time Formula 1 podium record to 208. He now has 53 more podium finishes than Michael Schumacher, while Max Verstappen sits a further 20 behind the German.
The result added another significant entry to Hamilton’s Ferrari campaign and reinforced why Antonelli regards his approach in difficult races as something worth learning from. More news and analysis from the seven-time world champion’s season can be found in the dedicated Lewis Hamilton Ferrari section.
For the Italian, the lesson from Malaysia went beyond the final position. The Ferrari man had dropped almost to the rear of the field after an opening phase that threatened to destroy his race, yet continued attacking until he reached the podium. That determination, in the young Mercedes driver’s view, is one of the characteristics that has accompanied Hamilton throughout a career that has already left a major mark on Formula 1.
Ferrari feared the worst for Lewis Hamilton before FIA uncovered the real problem
Ferrari was not responsible for the problem that brought Lewis Hamilton to a halt during the formation lap for the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, according to FIA director Nikolas Tombazis. The governing body has traced the extraordinary loss of power to a software error connected to the special configurations used in wet conditions, forcing an emergency update before the race could begin.
The Briton had qualified on the front row alongside Max Verstappen, so the sight of his Ferrari slowing and eventually stopping immediately raised fears that his race could be over before the start. Instead, the FIA abandoned the initial procedure, allowed the field to regroup and eventually restored Hamilton to his second-place starting position.
FIA explains Lewis Hamilton software stoppage at Sepang
The formation lap developed into one of the most unusual sequences of the weekend. Several cars slowed dramatically or stopped completely, with machinery using Ferrari power units particularly affected. Max Verstappen encountered the chaotic scene as he approached a collection of cars moving at very low speed or sitting stationary.
The disruption formed part of the wider software glitch that forced the Sepang start procedure to be suspended, with Lewis Hamilton among the drivers who required intervention before racing could continue.
Explaining the cause to DAZN, Nikolas Tombazis confirmed that Formula 1 cars use special software configurations in wet conditions for safety purposes, designed in part to prevent sudden power spikes. An error within that software meant some cars running at extremely low speed were unable to accelerate again once their speed had fallen far enough.
Tombazis stressed that the failure was not caused by the teams. With several cars almost coming to a complete halt, Race Control had to stop the procedure while the necessary configurations were changed. The FIA then updated the software and distributed it to the competitors, completing the process in around 20 minutes.
FIA emergency update changes wet-weather energy settings
The FIA subsequently provided a more detailed technical explanation of the incident. According to the governing body, an unprecedented combination of low engine speed, limited grip, wet-weather energy-management settings and the sector configuration at Sepang caused an unintended loss of power on several cars.
In response, the FIA technical department removed the energy-limit constraint in the affected sectors through an updated software release. Teams received the new configuration during the race delay caused by the heavy rain, allowing them to make the required changes to their power units before the start.
The governing body also confirmed that the issue had not appeared during testing or during the laps to the grid. A full review is planned together with the teams and power-unit manufacturers. A broader explanation of the intervention is available in our report on the FIA’s emergency Sepang software update.
Lewis Hamilton recovers from chaotic start to reach podium
Once the software problem had been resolved, Hamilton still faced another major setback. Ferrari started him on dry-weather tyres despite the wet and treacherous circuit, and the seven-time world champion eventually fell as low as 18th place.
From there, however, the pace of the SF-26 allowed him to carve his way back through the field. Hamilton ultimately secured third place after a late move on Isack Hadjar, turning an afternoon that had begun with a formation-lap stoppage into a podium finish. The full recovery is detailed in our account of Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable fight back at Sepang.
Martin Brundle praised the Ferrari driver’s performance after the race, although the front-row starting position inevitably left a sense that an opportunity to fight for victory had been lost amid the early chaos and tyre decision. More updates on his season are available in the dedicated Lewis Hamilton Ferrari news section.
Anthony Davidson explains the low-speed power problem
Anthony Davidson offered further technical context on Sky Sports, arguing that some of the preparation for wet-running scenarios can be simulated in advance. He explained that the absence of the MGU-H means the turbo can lose speed when the engine operates too slowly or the driver remains off throttle for an extended period.
According to Davidson, when the driver then demands acceleration, the system requires significant electrical energy. If the battery becomes depleted, only the internal combustion engine remains available. With the turbo no longer producing enough boost, the power unit may be unable to satisfy the driver’s requested torque, creating the situation that contributed to the regulatory and software intervention.
For Ferrari, the FIA’s explanation removes responsibility for Hamilton’s initial stoppage from the team itself. What initially looked like a potentially disastrous reliability problem on the SF-26 was instead part of a wider wet-weather software issue that affected multiple cars and forced Formula 1’s governing body to change its configurations before the Bahrain Grand Prix could finally begin.
Ferrari ignored Lewis Hamilton wet-track concerns before dramatic Sepang recovery
Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari’s decision to start him on slick tyres at Sepang denied him a realistic opportunity to challenge for victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, with previously unheard radio messages showing that he repeatedly warned the team about how wet the circuit remained. Despite dropping as low as 17th and more than a minute behind the lead, the seven-time world champion eventually recovered to the podium.
The race had already been delayed twice before it finally began, first because of a thunderstorm and then following software problems. Ferrari nevertheless committed the Briton to slick tyres when racing resumed, believing the track would dry quickly in the Malaysian heat. That prediction proved costly as Intermediate tyres immediately emerged as the stronger choice.
Lewis Hamilton warned Ferrari that Sepang was still too wet
Lewis Hamilton had qualified second and entered the race with considerable confidence in the SF-26. When he saw that Max Verstappen was using Intermediate tyres, however, he alerted race engineer Carlo Santi to the different choice. Santi responded that Ferrari had looked at the Safety Car onboard footage and believed the circuit appeared dry, adding that Hamilton would be able to judge the conditions once he reached the track himself.
The British driver’s concerns increased almost immediately. Once running behind the Safety Car, Hamilton repeatedly reported that the surface remained extremely wet and warned that keeping the car on slick tyres would be very difficult.
Carlo Santi instructed him to focus on surviving the opening phase because Ferrari expected the circuit to dry rapidly. That assumption did not materialise as quickly as anticipated. George Russell also reported over the radio that the asphalt was drying unusually slowly despite the high temperatures.
The uncertainty surrounding the crossover between wet-weather and dry-weather compounds had been one of the central strategic questions at Sepang, where the tyre allocation and circuit characteristics had already made Ferrari’s tyre behaviour a major focus heading into the weekend.
Ferrari misses early chance to abandon slick strategy
Hamilton never explicitly asked Ferrari to bring him into the pits during those early exchanges, but the team still had an opportunity to abandon the slick strategy before the green flag. Several other drivers who had initially chosen dry-weather tyres quickly changed approach once the conditions became clear.
Ferrari eventually recommended switching tyres, but by that stage Hamilton had already lost substantial ground. Rather than accept another delay, he insisted on remaining on track and committing to the original gamble.
A Safety Car caused by Valtteri Bottas becoming beached in the gravel then compressed the field and transformed the situation. Hamilton was able to recover through the pack as the circuit finally dried, using the pace of the SF-26 to climb back into contention.
Lewis Hamilton believes victory fight was possible
Asked after the race whether a different starting tyre could have put victory within reach, Lewis Hamilton was clear that he believed it could have. He described having mixed emotions: gratitude at recovering to the podium, but disappointment because the pre-race debate over tyres had ended with Ferrari choosing slicks while rivals ahead were preparing wet-weather rubber.
Seeing those tyre covers removed made Hamilton realise how difficult the opening phase was likely to become. Once the race started and the surface proved as wet as he had feared, he felt his opportunity had effectively been compromised.
The pace of the recovery only reinforced that sense of a missed opportunity. Hamilton found it considerably easier to progress through the field than the McLaren drivers or Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, while Max Verstappen controlled the race at the front. The complete story of Hamilton’s Ferrari season can be followed in our dedicated Lewis Hamilton coverage.
His late pass on Isack Hadjar secured his first podium since the British Grand Prix, completing a remarkable recovery from the damage caused by the opening strategy. The result still represented a major salvage operation, but Hamilton was left believing a second Ferrari victory had been possible had the initial tyre decision gone differently.
For the Italian side, the episode will inevitably place further attention on how the team evaluates fast-changing conditions and reacts when driver feedback conflicts with expectations from the pit wall. More detailed coverage of the SF-26 and the team’s development can be found in the Ferrari technical analysis section.
F1, Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton earns Martin Brundle praise after dramatic Sepang recovery
Lewis Hamilton’s recovery from the lower reaches of the field to the podium at Sepang left Martin Brundle deeply impressed after Ferrari’s opening tyre gamble had threatened to ruin the seven-time world champion’s Bahrain Grand Prix. Having fallen as low as 17th and more than a minute behind the leader, Hamilton ultimately fought back to third place in Malaysia.
The result was particularly striking because Ferrari had placed the Briton on slick tyres when racing finally began following a rain-related delay. Intermediate tyres quickly proved to be the correct choice, sending the Briton backwards despite having qualified on the front row.
Lewis Hamilton turns Ferrari’s Sepang tyre gamble into a recovery drive
Ferrari’s decision left Lewis Hamilton facing a major deficit in the early phase of the race, but the picture changed as the circuit began to dry. Once conditions moved towards the slick tyres, the Ferrari driver started making his way back through the pack.
The scale of the original setback came from the Ferrari slick-tyre gamble at Sepang, which initially left both of the Scuderia’s cars in serious difficulty.
A crucial moment arrived when Valtteri Bottas stopped and triggered a Safety Car. Ferrari elected not to bring Hamilton into the pits, allowing him to remain on his Soft tyres. He capitalised on the situation and climbed to fifth place, running behind Isack Hadjar before finally making his first pit stop.
That decision became an important part of a comeback that eventually carried Hamilton all the way from the back half of the order to the final podium position. The full sequence of his strategy call and recovery can also be followed in our report on Lewis Hamilton’s fight back to third at Sepang.
Martin Brundle impressed by Lewis Hamilton’s progress
With just over 20 laps remaining, Martin Brundle assessed the scale of the recovery and suggested that even fourth place would represent an extraordinary result given where Hamilton had been earlier in the afternoon.
The Ferrari driver eventually exceeded that expectation. George Russell retired while the race was under Safety Car conditions, promoting Hamilton to fourth and creating the opportunity for a late battle with Isack Hadjar for the final podium position.
Hamilton completed the move at Turn 1, passing the French driver and securing third place. Brundle highlighted how far the race had swung from the chaos and difficulty of the opening phase, while also noting the enthusiastic reaction coming from the spectators around the circuit.
The result ended a run of six consecutive races without a top-three finish for Hamilton. After failing to score a podium throughout his first season with Ferrari, he has now collected six during his second campaign with the Maranello team.
Lewis Hamilton closes on George Russell in the championship
The podium also carried championship significance. Lewis Hamilton remains third in the Drivers’ standings, but George Russell’s retirement has reduced the gap between the former Mercedes teammates to 22 points.
Second place in the championship therefore remains achievable for the Ferrari driver. Finishing there would represent his best final championship position since 2021, adding another objective to the closing stages of his second season in red. The latest impact of Sepang on that battle can be explored in the 2026 Formula 1 standings after the Sepang Grand Prix.
Hamilton also came extremely close to being voted Driver of the Day. Race winner Max Verstappen received 25.93 per cent of the vote, while Hamilton finished just behind on 25.28 per cent. The narrow margin reflected how strongly his recovery resonated after a race that had looked close to being lost in its opening stages.
For a driver who had been more than a minute away from the lead on the wrong tyres, turning the afternoon into a podium represented one of his strongest Ferrari performances so far. Martin Brundle’s reaction captured the scale of the turnaround: what began as a strategic disaster ended with Hamilton back inside the top three.
Charles Leclerc climbs from last to fourth at Sepang but says Ferrari needs upgrades
Charles Leclerc recovered from last place to finish fourth in the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, but the Ferrari driver left Malaysia with mixed feelings after a race that changed dramatically from one phase to the next. An early gamble on Soft slick tyres sent him to the back of the field, before retirements and Safety Car periods helped create the conditions for an unexpected recovery.
The result was impressive considering how badly the race had started, but Charles Leclerc also admitted that Ferrari still lacked the performance required to challenge the fastest cars consistently. Looking ahead to Singapore, the Monegasque believes the team will eventually need upgrades after losing ground to Red Bull and Mercedes over recent races.
Charles Leclerc recovers from last after Ferrari’s slick tyre gamble
The decision to start on Soft dry-weather tyres while the Sepang circuit was still very wet proved extremely costly. Charles Leclerc dropped all the way to last place and was eventually forced to reverse the decision by returning to the pits and fitting Intermediate tyres.
From that point, the recovery began. Retirements and several Safety Car periods helped reshape the race, including the intervention on lap 46 following Alexander Albon’s retirement and a final Safety Car that came after George Russell retired. That final restart gave Charles Leclerc an opportunity to attack Isack Hadjar, and he converted it into fourth place at the finish.
The result added another unusual chapter to a highly unpredictable Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Readers can follow Charles Leclerc’s season and Ferrari performances through our dedicated Charles Leclerc coverage.
Charles Leclerc describes a Bahrain GP of two halves
Speaking to Sky Sport F1 after the race, Charles Leclerc described the Grand Prix as a story of two completely different halves.
“Honestly, in the first part of the race everything that could go wrong went wrong, while in the second part everything that could go well went our way. At the end of the day, I prefer it to have happened this way rather than the other way around.”
Despite the recovery to fourth, Charles Leclerc did not believe Ferrari had the speed to challenge the cars ahead in a conventional race. In his assessment, third and fourth would probably have represented the maximum realistic outcome for the Scuderia.
“That means today we are P4 and, honestly, I think in a normal race we would have finished P3 and P4. The drivers ahead were simply too fast for us. I think Lewis had good pace; I struggled a lot with the car, and we will analyse why.”
Charles Leclerc explained that his difficulties had not been present throughout the weekend. His feeling with the SF-26 had initially been positive before performance began to deteriorate during qualifying.
“On Friday I had a good feeling, and I had it up until Q2 as well. Then in Q3 I started losing ground and today, in the race, it was very difficult.”
Charles Leclerc sceptical about Ferrari’s Singapore chances
Attention now turns immediately to Singapore, the next round on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, but Charles Leclerc was cautious when assessing Ferrari’s chances of fighting at the front.
“I hope we can do well in Singapore, but ultimately I think that in the last two or three races we have faced different track characteristics and, clearly, the trend is that we are losing a little performance compared with Red Bull and Mercedes.”
The Ferrari driver therefore believes further development will eventually be required if the team wants to reverse the recent trend.
“So sooner or later we will have to bring some upgrades: we don’t exactly have the level of performance we would like.”
The concern is particularly significant because the recent circuits have presented different characteristics, yet Charles Leclerc still sees the same relative trend against Ferrari’s main competitors. The evolving competitive picture can also be explored through the ScuderiaFans Ferrari vs F1 Rivals statistics.
Fourth place at Sepang therefore represented a strong recovery from an extremely difficult opening phase, but it did not remove the larger questions surrounding Ferrari’s current performance. Charles Leclerc leaves Malaysia with valuable points, yet also with a clear belief that the Scuderia must find more speed if it wants to fight Red Bull and Mercedes more consistently in the races ahead.
Bahrain GP: Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari had the pace to challenge Max Verstappen for victory
Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari had the potential to fight for victory at Sepang before its decision to start on slick tyres on a wet track sent both cars backwards. The seven-time world champion eventually recovered to third place, but the podium felt simultaneously like a success and a missed opportunity after the SF-26 had shown enough performance to challenge near the front.
For Lewis Hamilton in particular, Ferrari appeared capable of at least joining the fight with Mercedes. Speaking in the post-race press conference at Sepang, the British driver explained what happened during the hectic moments before the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix and why he realised almost immediately that the team’s tyre choice had put him in serious trouble.
Lewis Hamilton realised Ferrari was in trouble when rivals chose intermediates
The chaotic start also included the Power Unit software problem that stopped several drivers during the formation lap, including Lewis Hamilton. Despite that complication, he stressed how competitive Ferrari had looked throughout the weekend after qualifying second.
“We were having a good weekend: the car was working really well in qualifying and it was fantastic to take second place. My engineers and I stayed here until 11:30 last night analysing everything; I really felt that today was the right opportunity to have at least a good fight with Max [Verstappen]. Then, obviously, the rain came and there was general panic when we lost power. In my case in particular, the power didn’t come back immediately: I had to stop on the track and restart the car. In the end, we all found ourselves in the pit lane.”
Ferrari had arrived at Sepang with expectations that the circuit and tyre allocation could potentially suit the SF-26 better than some previous venues, an issue explored in greater detail in our analysis of why Pirelli’s Sepang compounds could suit Ferrari.
During the stoppage, teams had to decide whether to switch to slick tyres on the assumption that the rain had stopped and Sepang’s heat would quickly dry the asphalt, or remain on intermediates. Lewis Hamilton recalled just how uncertain the situation was.
“Fortunately, we managed to get back to our positions, but then there was a long wait while we discussed which tyre to fit. I said: ‘Look, there was a lot of spray during the laps to the grid’. I entered the pit lane, looked at the asphalt and thought: ‘It’s still wet’. I went to the pit wall and said: ‘It’s still wet’. They were replying: ‘Yes, but because so much time has passed, it will definitely dry quickly; perhaps we’re already in the crossover phase’.”
“Anyway, as a team we decided to fit the Soft tyres; but when we were at the end of the pit lane and I saw that the others had removed the tyre blankets and fitted intermediates, I knew we were in trouble. When we went out, I saw all the spray coming off the back of Max’s car and I said to myself: ‘OK, I’m finished. My race is compromised’.”
Ferrari’s slick gamble sends Lewis Hamilton backwards
The choice proved costly immediately. During the opening laps, Lewis Hamilton dropped steadily through the order as every driver on intermediates was able to pass him, including some who had initially started on slick tyres before quickly abandoning them.
Despite the losses, the British driver ultimately decided against pitting for intermediates and instead waited for the circuit to dry. The calculation was straightforward: another stop would have added roughly 26 seconds to a race in which he had already lost around one minute and 40 seconds.
“We had to hang on: we had made a decision and we had to stick with it. While everyone was overtaking me, I thought: ‘Let’s stop’, but I knew we would lose another 26 seconds. What difference did that make compared with the minute and 40 seconds or so that I had already lost? So I told myself: ‘Let’s wait for the track to dry’.”
“And once it dried, it was nice to see that I was gaining ground on the others. The car was great at that point. The guys in the pits did some excellent pit stops and the strategy was great. I never imagined I would get back onto the podium, but obviously I’m really grateful that we managed it.”
The race underlined how quickly tyre decisions and pit-stop timing can reshape a Grand Prix. Ferrari’s broader strategic performance can be followed through the ScuderiaFans Ferrari Pit Stop & Strategy Statistics.
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari could have fought Max Verstappen for victory
The frustration was heightened by the underlying performance of the SF-26. Lewis Hamilton felt the car had been strong enough to give him an opportunity to challenge Max Verstappen, making the early tyre decision particularly costly in terms of what might have been possible.
Charles Leclerc also stressed that Ferrari must learn from teams such as Red Bull when dealing with such complicated situations. The Monegasque driver’s season and latest Ferrari developments can be followed through our dedicated Charles Leclerc coverage.
Lewis Hamilton, however, avoided publicly criticising Ferrari and instead presented the Sepang experience as something the team could use constructively.
“We will definitely have an open dialogue. I’m really proud of my team. The mechanics every weekend, the work they do, the engineers who come with us to every race, the catering… everyone, absolutely everyone, gives their maximum. They put their heart into it.”
“There are certainly areas to improve, we are aware of that and we’re not trying to deny it. So I think we’ll have a constructive discussion, regroup, take the positives from this weekend, the car was really good, and we’ll return to the track ready to fight.”
That optimism is significant after a weekend in which Lewis Hamilton felt much more competitive in the SF-26. The British driver had already demonstrated the car’s potential by qualifying second, while the recovery to third showed how strong Ferrari could be once conditions allowed the car to perform properly. More coverage of his season is available in the dedicated Lewis Hamilton section.
Lewis Hamilton ultimately believes a much bigger result was available at Sepang had the opening phase unfolded differently.
“As I said, today there was an opportunity to try to fight Max for the win, but maybe we’ll be able to do that next week.”
Ferrari will therefore leave Sepang with two contrasting conclusions. The tyre decision cost valuable ground at the start, but the underlying performance of the SF-26 and Lewis Hamilton’s recovery offered genuine encouragement. The team now has an immediate opportunity to apply those lessons as the 2026 season continues, with the complete schedule available in the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.
Lewis Hamilton refuses Ferrari pit call at Sepang and fights back to 208th F1 podium
Lewis Hamilton turned a race that appeared to be slipping completely out of his hands into one of his most memorable Ferrari recoveries at Sepang, climbing back from 18th place to finish third in the Bahrain Grand Prix and secure the 208th podium of his Formula 1 career. After qualifying on the front row, the seven-time world champion initially paid a heavy price for Ferrari’s risky tyre choice before his decision to stay out helped transform the afternoon.
A driver approaching 400 Formula 1 Grands Prix has experienced almost everything, but Lewis Hamilton is unlikely to forget the Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia. Almost everything happened during a chaotic Sunday at Sepang: a technical scare, torrential rain, a strategy gamble, a fall through the order and then a spectacular recovery that eventually carried the Ferrari driver onto the podium.
Lewis Hamilton shines in qualifying with a front-row start
Ferrari had lost some momentum after the summer break, while Lewis Hamilton had struggled to produce consistently strong performances. There had been too many controversies, too many rumours and an inconsistent feeling with the car.
In Malaysia, however, the old Lewis Hamilton suddenly seemed to return. His qualifying lap was exceptional, earning him second place on the grid at a circuit where driver confidence and precision are heavily rewarded. Lewis Hamilton was visibly pleased after qualifying and even shared smiles with Max Verstappen. Expectations for the race were therefore significant, with a podium appearing to be a realistic target.
Formation-lap problem adds to the Sepang chaos
Then the rain arrived. A torrential downpour hit Sepang and the start was postponed as tension continued to build. When the drivers eventually returned to their cars for a double formation lap, Lewis Hamilton reported a problem with the accelerator.
The Ferrari driver asked the team what he should do and feared that his race could be over before it had properly started. The SF-26 stopped, but a reset worked and the car was able to move again. It was another complication during an already extraordinary starting procedure, with the problems surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s car forming part of the technical disruption that suspended the Sepang start.
There was then another lengthy stoppage for the entire field. When proceedings finally resumed, Ferrari decided to take an enormous risk by fitting both cars with red-walled Soft slick tyres. After two laps behind the Safety Car, it was already becoming clear just how difficult that gamble could become.
Ferrari tyre gamble sends Lewis Hamilton down to 18th
The fears were quickly confirmed. Lewis Hamilton had started from the front row, but after the opening corner he was already down in tenth place. He then continued sliding backwards until he found himself in a miserable 18th position, with almost the entire field ahead of him.
Charles Leclerc was forced to pit because of front-wing damage and switched to Intermediate tyres, eventually passing his teammate as well. Ferrari’s decision to use slicks on the wet Sepang circuit had turned the opening phase of the race into a major setback, with the full sequence of the Ferrari slick-tyre gamble in Malaysia leaving both drivers in serious difficulty.
Lewis Hamilton refuses to pit: “We made a gamble”
Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer Carlo Santi then asked whether he also wanted to return to the pits, with the race seemingly already compromised.
“If you’re happy with that, we can try a gamble,” Carlo Santi told him.
Lewis Hamilton, responding with the confidence of a vastly experienced racing driver, chose the opposite course.
“I want to stay out, we made a gamble,” Lewis Hamilton replied.
It proved to be a crucial decision. What initially looked like stubbornness soon began to look like foresight.
Lewis Hamilton charges from 18th to third at Sepang
Valtteri Bottas went off the circuit and triggered a Safety Car. Lewis Hamilton kept his Soft tyres and began an extraordinary recovery drive. Lap after lap, he rediscovered the rhythm associated with some of his finest Formula 1 performances, carving his way through the field with a succession of overtakes.
Lewis Hamilton climbed from 18th to sixth, producing several notable moves along the way, including his pass on Oscar Piastri. He then began closing on Isack Hadjar, reducing a gap of around 12 seconds. The Ferrari pit stop did not initially help him, however, with the yellow-walled Medium tyre failing to deliver the performance he wanted.
The scale of Lewis Hamilton’s recovery can be followed through the ScuderiaFans F1 Race Position & Progression Tracker, which shows how dramatically running order can evolve during a chaotic Grand Prix.
Another Safety Car eventually brought the leading group back towards the pits. This time Ferrari had another set of Soft tyres available and Lewis Hamilton was able to attack again. The pass on Isack Hadjar came comfortably once racing resumed.
George Russell then retired, opening the door to the podium. Lewis Hamilton took full advantage, finishing third to claim his sixth podium of the season and the 208th of his Formula 1 career.
Lewis Hamilton had won his gamble in Malaysia. After falling all the way to 18th, the Ferrari driver fought back to share the podium with Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli, whose position in the World Championship was strengthened further by another major result at Sepang.
Ferrari finds Sepang sweet spot as Red Bull upgrades transform RB22 and Mercedes struggles
The competitive balance shifted in Malaysia, although not necessarily in terms of the overall Formula 1 hierarchy, which always depends heavily on individual circuit characteristics. Instead, Sepang highlighted major differences in how well the leading cars were balanced. Max Verstappen’s victory and Lewis Hamilton’s podium were the direct consequence of a Red Bull and Ferrari that looked far more balanced than before, albeit for very different reasons. Mercedes, meanwhile, left the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang questioning the upgrade package introduced in Malaysia, even with Andrea Kimi Antonelli now within touching distance of the world title.
Red Bull upgrades transform the RB22
Max Verstappen’s first victory of the season came at the end of a chaotic race, but there was nothing fortunate about the Dutch champion’s success. Red Bull had looked convincing from the opening practice sessions in Malaysia, underlining the strength and consistency of its package.
The RB22 had already shown signs of progress in the preceding races, particularly through its straight-line performance, but too many weaknesses remained in terms of drivability. That makes Red Bull’s first victory of the year on a technically demanding circuit such as Sepang even more significant. With corners of virtually every type, the Malaysian venue made it difficult to find a balance capable of working across every section of the lap.
The upgrades introduced since Monza, and particularly those brought to Baku, have effectively transformed the RB22. Isack Hadjar said he found a very different car compared with the one he had driven before his injury. The developments have not simply increased downforce; they have also widened the car’s operating window and corrected its aerodynamic balance.
That improvement has increased driver confidence while also helping tyre management. With less sliding, the tyres are less prone to excessive overheating, allowing the drivers to exploit the car more consistently over a stint.
Crucially, the developments have not compromised the RB22’s straight-line speed. At Sepang, Red Bull continued to make a significant difference on the straights. The progress therefore gives even greater importance to the historic first victory for Red Bull Powertrains in its debut season, with Ford contributing in several areas including battery management, virtual simulation and additive-manufacturing production techniques.
Red Bull consequently became the fourth team and third power-unit manufacturer to win in 2026, easing concerns that Formula 1’s enormous regulatory revolution could lead to a prolonged monopoly by a single team. The shifting picture among the leading constructors can also be followed through the Ferrari vs F1 Rivals statistics.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli closes on title as Mercedes questions W17 upgrades
The other potentially historic development from the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia was Andrea Kimi Antonelli taking another major step towards securing the world championship. George Russell was once again let down by his power unit, with reliability continuing to represent Mercedes’ main weakness.
Mercedes must now determine whether the unit used by George Russell can be reused or whether an older power unit can be brought back into service. Otherwise, the British driver could face the prospect of a grid penalty in Singapore, one of the most difficult circuits on the calendar for overtaking.
Leaving George Russell’s misfortune aside, Andrea Kimi Antonelli was once again faster than his team-mate in Malaysia. Sepang’s long-radius corners and numerous combined-braking phases suited the Italian’s driving style, which involves attacking corner entry and rotating the car without relying excessively on the front tyres.
Even in Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s hands, however, Mercedes could not match Red Bull. It was predictable that the W17 would not dominate as it had at Baku, a circuit whose characteristics were particularly well suited to the car, but the Brackley team was still less competitive than expected. That represents an intriguing contrast with the dominance previously shown by the Mercedes W17.
The upgrade package introduced in Malaysia increased the car’s aerodynamic drag, meaning Mercedes was no longer dominant in a straight line. The team also had to deal with unusual W17 behaviour, with excessive understeer particularly evident in slower corners.
The tyres and the way Mercedes managed them on Sepang’s distinctive asphalt could have contributed, but there is also concern that the developments, while adding downforce, may have altered the car’s operating window and disturbed its overall balance. Andrea Kimi Antonelli raised the possibility of comparing the upgraded car with the previous specification. Even with both championships close, Mercedes needs answers in order to understand the best direction for its 2027 project.
Ferrari SF-26 comes alive in its Sepang operating window
Ferrari’s Sunday had initially threatened to become a nightmare. The Scuderia was among the teams that gambled on dry-weather tyres at the start, a decision made while the cars were stationary without precise knowledge of the track conditions. More difficult to understand was Ferrari’s decision not to reverse course and switch to Intermediates once it became increasingly clear that slicks were not suitable.
During the opening laps, Lewis Hamilton was losing more than 20 seconds per lap to the leaders, demonstrating that the crossover point to slick tyres was still some distance away. The Briton was even overtaken by Charles Leclerc, who produced lap times close to those of Max Verstappen once the Monegasque had switched to Intermediates. That was a particularly notable development for a Ferrari that has often struggled in wet conditions.
Ferrari’s performance at Sepang also supported some of the expectations surrounding the SF-26 before the weekend, when Pirelli’s Sepang compounds appeared capable of suiting the Ferrari better than Baku.
Two Safety Car periods then gave the Scuderia a chance to recover, and Ferrari took advantage effectively. Both drivers moved through traffic confidently, while Lewis Hamilton produced a pace similar to Andrea Kimi Antonelli despite running tyres almost ten laps older and already stressed by numerous overtaking moves.
Ferrari probably did not have enough performance to challenge Max Verstappen directly, but it is difficult not to wonder how the race might have developed had the asphalt not been around 20°C colder than on the previous days. Those cooler conditions significantly reduced tyre degradation, one of the factors that shaped how the race unfolded. The relative pace can be examined further through the F1 Race Pace & Lap Time Comparison.
Ferrari improvement encouraging, but not yet a breakthrough
None of this changes the fact that Ferrari operated inside its ideal performance window at Sepang, but it is still too early to describe the Malaysian weekend as a genuine turning point. Instead, the SF-26 encountered conditions that allowed several of its strongest characteristics to emerge: tyre management, downforce through high-speed corners and a precise front end.
The objective for Ferrari’s upcoming updates must therefore be to widen the car’s operating window so that these qualities can be exploited across a broader range of circuits and conditions. That task becomes even more important given the lack of a major performance step from the recent Mercedes and McLaren developments. The contrast is particularly interesting after Baku had raised questions over whether Ferrari had slipped to fourth in the competitive order.
McLaren struggles again as Racing Bulls and Aston Martin progress
After Baku, McLaren endured another weekend to forget in Malaysia. Driving and strategic errors contributed to a questionable overall execution, including the decision to use Hard tyres during a cool race with low degradation.
More broadly, the MCL40 again lacked competitiveness despite Sepang appearing, on paper, to be better suited to the characteristics of the car. That performance inevitably raises further questions about McLaren’s recent development programme.
On a Sunday when many teams made mistakes, Racing Bulls was again the strongest operation behind the leading teams and moved closer to fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship. Aston Martin also had reason to celebrate, returning to the points with Fernando Alonso.
The AMR26 still lacks performance in several areas, but the improvements in downforce, power and, above all, drivability are increasingly visible.
Wet-weather debut also exposes power-unit software problem
Finally, Sepang provided the first wet-weather running for the new generation of Formula 1 cars, although the conditions were never extreme and lasted for only a limited number of laps. Contrary to earlier concerns, no major performance or track-holding problems emerged.
Instead, a problem appeared in the power-unit control software, triggered by the low speeds during the formation lap together with the energy and power parameters used in wet-track conditions. FIA intervention was required to remove restrictions on recoverable energy in individual sectors.
The episode also raised the question of whether turbo management may have played a role. It will now be up to the FIA to provide the answers and identify a lasting solution. Red Bull, meanwhile, has already found solutions to many of its own problems, with the improvements to the RB22 ultimately returning Max Verstappen to the top step of the podium.
F1 Bahrain GP: Ferrari finally sees a ray of light at Sepang but one question remains
The best driver won, but in the end almost everyone had something to celebrate from this strange Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia at Sepang, far away from the winds of war. Max Verstappen ultimately came out on top, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli took another important step towards the world title and Ferrari found at least a small ray of hope through Lewis Hamilton’s podium.
Max Verstappen returns to winning form
Max Verstappen won because, in the most difficult grip conditions, he immediately made the difference. Red Bull also returned to the top step after going 72 Grands Prix without seeing the chequered flag as a winner, always previously with Max Verstappen, of course.
This time, however, there was an additional significance: Red Bull also won as a power-unit manufacturer, putting itself alongside Ferrari, Mercedes and Audi in that respect. The fact that the achievement arrived after only 16 races makes the milestone even more remarkable.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli closes on the title as Lewis Hamilton shines
Andrea Kimi Antonelli also emerged as one of the major winners despite finishing second. The Italian extended his championship advantage over the continually unfortunate George Russell to 84 points, putting the world title increasingly within sight.
Ferrari could also claim a positive result after Lewis Hamilton reached the third step of the podium following a superb recovery drive. After only six laps, the seven-time world champion was down in 17th place and already 76 seconds behind the leader.
Fernando Alonso also produced an impressive result by taking a struggling Aston Martin to eighth place, a finish that appeared extremely difficult to imagine given the car’s level of performance.
Mercedes and McLaren emerge as Sepang’s big losers
Only two teams truly lost out amid the chaos in Kuala Lumpur. Mercedes had arrived expecting major gains from its new aerodynamic package, but the car instead performed worse. George Russell then suffered a worrying power-unit failure while running third with five laps remaining.
McLaren also endured a major setback. The team got the car’s set-up wrong despite having been expected to challenge for victory.
Chaotic conditions highlight Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Italian motorsport can celebrate another important step from Andrea Kimi Antonelli towards a championship that appears increasingly close. There was little he could ultimately do against an inspired Max Verstappen in a Red Bull that has improved significantly in recent races under Laurent Mekies, another highly regarded technician who is much missed and perhaps was not fully appreciated during his time at Maranello.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli still tried. Starting third, he launched himself aggressively into the lead and remained determined to make life difficult for Max Verstappen. The Mercedes driver could have settled for second and thought only about the championship, but instead he continued trying to win without taking unnecessary risks. It was the attitude of a champion who now appears to be missing only the final seal.
The race itself was confused and delayed. Rain arrived at the beginning, and although Sepang’s draining asphalt appeared capable of drying within a few laps, that did not happen. The circuit gradually evolved into a treacherous dry surface, where Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli demonstrated superior sensitivity behind the wheel and fought cleanly for a couple of laps.
Before that, Andrea Kimi Antonelli had also battled George Russell after his team-mate slipped ahead at the start. The Italian soon repassed him. George Russell had been strong at Baku on a comparatively straightforward circuit, but the difficult Sepang conditions exposed some limitations that have been discussed for some time, although he bore no responsibility for the eventual engine failure.
Ferrari finds a ray of light at Sepang
And Ferrari? Decent, but not enough. The gamble of starting both cars on Soft tyres immediately proved costly. With little to lose, the Scuderia could have split its approach and fitted Intermediates to one of the two cars, particularly given how uncertain the conditions were. Sepang’s tyre behaviour had already been one of the key factors heading into the weekend, with Pirelli’s Sepang tyre compounds presenting a different challenge for the SF-26.
Lewis Hamilton fell from second on the grid to 16th, while Charles Leclerc also made contact with Gabriel Bortoleto and found himself last after his pit stop. Lewis Hamilton used all his experience to keep going on the softer Pirellis and gradually began recovering, helped by two Safety Car periods. It was an excellent comeback, backed by strong pace.
Charles Leclerc also showed an encouraging level of speed. As soon as the Monegasque switched to Soft tyres, he was even faster than race leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Both Ferrari drivers spent much of the race under pressure to recover positions and eventually passed Isack Hadjar in the closing stages. George Russell’s retirement then allowed Lewis Hamilton to secure a deserved podium.
The underlying speed can be explored further through the ScuderiaFans F1 Race Pace & Lap Time Comparison, particularly when assessing whether Ferrari’s Soft-tyre performance represented genuine front-running potential.
Could Ferrari have fought at the front in a normal race?
Could Ferrari have challenged at the front in normal circumstances? It is difficult to know. The pace on the softer compound was certainly there, but Lewis Hamilton was still around half a minute behind Max Verstappen when the final Safety Car appeared.
Nevertheless, Sepang offered Ferrari a small ray of light that will need to be confirmed next Sunday in Singapore. Fred Vasseur, Benedetto Vigna and the rest of the Maranello leadership are clearly operating under intense scrutiny and are feeling the pressure that comes with such constant attention.
But Ferrari remains Ferrari, as the great Enzo Ferrari often reminded everyone. Expectations at Maranello are built around victories, not difficult recoveries and hard-earned placings that ultimately satisfy nobody.
FIA explains Sepang software chaos after emergency update sent to teams
The FIA has explained the extraordinary software and power-management problems that affected several Formula 1 cars during the formation lap at Sepang, revealing that an emergency software update was distributed to every team before the race was restarted. The federation blamed an unprecedented combination of low engine speeds, low-grip conditions, wet-weather energy-management settings and the sector configuration of the Malaysian circuit.
The chaotic scenes unfolded before the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at Sepang, with cars repeatedly slowing, stopping and accelerating again at different points around the circuit. The unusual formation lap quickly became one of the most striking images of the weekend and immediately raised questions about what had gone wrong.
FIA explains the Sepang software chaos
The FIA subsequently issued an official statement through its social media channels in an attempt to clarify the cause of the problem.
“During the formation lap preceding the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, an unprecedented combination of low engine speed, low-grip conditions, wet-track energy-management settings and the configuration of the sectors at the Sepang circuit caused an unexpected loss of power for several cars,” the FIA said.
According to the federation, the problem involved the interaction between several different factors rather than one isolated technical failure. The conditions at Sepang therefore exposed a scenario that had not previously appeared during testing or the warm-up laps before the cars reached the starting grid.
Software update distributed to all teams before the restart
The FIA Technical Department reacted during the long delay caused by heavy rain by changing the energy restrictions in the affected parts of the circuit. A software update was then distributed to every competitor, allowing the teams to make the necessary changes to their power units before the race finally began.
“As a result, the FIA Technical Department removed the energy limit in the affected sectors through a software update distributed to all competitors during the race delay caused by the heavy rain, allowing the teams to make the necessary changes to the Power Unit before the start of the race,” the statement continued.
“This issue had not been detected by either the FIA or the teams during testing or the warm-up laps before reaching the starting grid. The FIA, together with the teams and the power-unit manufacturers, will carry out an in-depth analysis of the matter.”
Further investigation expected after unexpected power loss
The episode leaves Formula 1 with an issue that will require a more permanent solution if similar circumstances are encountered again. Although significant adjustments have already been approved concerning the balance between the thermal and electrical components of the power unit, this generation of Formula 1 engine technology is expected to remain in use until at least the end of the 2029 season.
The events at Sepang could therefore intensify the wider debate surrounding the future direction of Formula 1 power units, including discussion over whether the much-debated return of V8 engines could eventually be brought forward.
Lewis Hamilton reveals Ferrari’s Max Verstappen assumption behind Sepang slick gamble
Lewis Hamilton completed an impressive recovery to finish third at Sepang after Ferrari’s disastrous decision to start on slick tyres left the British driver at the back of the field and as much as a minute behind the race leader. The seven-time world champion eventually returned to the podium after an eventful race in which Ferrari recovered to finish third with Lewis Hamilton and fourth with Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton returns to the podium after Ferrari’s Sepang strategy error
Lewis Hamilton produced an excellent weekend overall, combining a strong qualifying performance on Saturday with a race spent fighting his way back through the field on Sunday. Ferrari made the costly decision to fit slick tyres at the start, only for intermediates to prove the better option, and Lewis Hamilton found himself near the back of the order during the opening stages with a deficit of around one minute to the leader.
The Briton refused to give up. By taking advantage of the Safety Car triggered by Valtteri Bottas without making a pit stop, Lewis Hamilton managed to bring his race back under control and began climbing through the field. He completed several overtakes, with the final move on Isack Hadjar allowing him to return to the podium for the first time since Silverstone on 5 July. The dramatic change in his running position can also be explored through the F1 Race Position & Progression Tracker.
Lewis Hamilton explains Ferrari’s slick tyre mistake
Speaking to Sky Italia, Lewis Hamilton reflected on Ferrari’s decision to begin the race on slick tyres and admitted that the conditions had already caused concern before the start.
“It was certainly painful. From my side, I went into the pit lane, looked at the asphalt and saw that it was still wet. I went to the pit wall, looked at the track and said: ‘But it’s still wet.’ The more the race was delayed, the more it should have dried, but instead there was a lot of spray on the track.”
Lewis Hamilton then revealed that Ferrari had expected Max Verstappen to make the same choice and switch to dry-weather tyres.
“We thought Max Verstappen would also fit the dry tyres. We thought it was the right choice, but it wasn’t. By the time we realised, it was too late. Keeping the car on the track was really difficult.”
Ferrari gets every decision right after the initial mistake
Despite the costly opening call, Lewis Hamilton praised Ferrari’s response throughout the remainder of the Grand Prix. The pit stops, their timing and the strategic decisions that followed allowed the team to recover from an extremely difficult position and ultimately secure a podium.
“The team then did a great job, including with the pit stops, and the mechanics did a fantastic job. After the initial mistake, we made all the right choices, from the pit stops to the timing. The strategy was good after that; we had to react. I was a minute behind and finished third, and I’m very grateful for that.” – the British driver concluded at the end of the Bahrain Grad Prix.
Charles Leclerc urges Ferrari strategy improvement after Sepang: “Red Bull always gets it right”
Charles Leclerc has called on Ferrari to take a step forward with its strategic decisions after the team recovered from a costly early tyre gamble to finish third and fourth in the rain-hit Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Lewis Hamilton secured the final podium position, with Charles Leclerc immediately behind his team-mate after an incredible and chaotic race at Sepang.
Charles Leclerc was realistic about Ferrari’s result and did not complain about the final positions, but the Monegasque made it clear that he believes better strategic decisions are possible. Ferrari made a significant gamble by choosing to start both cars on soft slick tyres while the Sepang circuit was still very wet following the downpour that caused a lengthy delay to the start. After that decision went against the team, Lewis Hamilton’s podium and Charles Leclerc’s fourth place were effectively the maximum Ferrari could recover.
Ferrari remains second in the Constructors’ Championship, with its advantage over McLaren increasing to 89 points following a second consecutive disappointing Grand Prix for McLaren. Nevertheless, the Maranello team could potentially have achieved more had the opening phase of the race been managed differently from a strategic perspective, including the possibility of splitting the tyre choices between its two drivers.
Charles Leclerc says Ferrari strategy must improve
Charles Leclerc explained why making different choices for the two Ferrari cars would also have involved significant risk in such uncertain conditions.
“Well, because it’s true that in those conditions one of the two drivers is certainly destined to have a terrible race and the other benefits from a very good choice, because there is no middle ground in situations like that. I actually thought I had made the right choice, because most of the grid, I think 13 cars, were on slicks. I think we misjudged the conditions, but there are certainly teams that consistently make better choices in those conditions.”
The Ferrari driver specifically highlighted Red Bull as a team that has repeatedly made strong calls in difficult circumstances and believes this is an area where Ferrari still has room to improve.
“I’m thinking especially of Red Bull, and in that respect we need to take a step forward. After all that, I think everything that could go wrong in the first part of the race did go wrong, but everything that could go as well as possible in the second part went well. Having said all that, I don’t think more than third or fourth was possible today, and it wouldn’t have been possible even in a normal race.”
Ferrari returns to the podium after difficult start
Despite the problems during the opening part of the Grand Prix, Ferrari ultimately returned to the podium through Lewis Hamilton, while Charles Leclerc completed a strong recovery to fourth place.
“After the wet conditions, the race was a little harder-fought than I would have liked, but the final result is what we deserved.”
Charles Leclerc raises concern over wet-weather power delivery
Charles Leclerc was also asked about Formula 1’s first significant experience of wet conditions with the current cars. After the difficulties Ferrari and several other teams experienced during the formation lap, the question was whether these cars could genuinely be driven safely in the wet.
“There are certainly risks, but yes, these cars can be driven. What we don’t like, and I think this is a view shared by all the drivers, is that there are situations where we don’t have control of the car and the power we receive from the power unit…”
It is a delicate subject and one that deserves deeper analysis once there has been time to examine what happened in more detail.
Fred Vasseur defends Ferrari slick-tyre gamble after Sepang P3-P4 recovery
Frédéric Vasseur has defended Ferrari’s decision to start both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on Soft slick tyres at Sepang, arguing that when a team is convinced one option is superior, it makes sense to commit both cars to the same strategy. The gamble proved extremely costly on the wet track, but Ferrari ultimately recovered to finish third and fourth after an impressive comeback.
The Ferrari team principal described the overall performance as “strong and convincing” after Lewis Hamilton reached the podium and Charles Leclerc finished fourth, despite both SF-26s having fallen more than a minute behind cars that started on intermediate tyres.
Frédéric Vasseur defends Ferrari’s decision not to split tyre strategies
In Formula 1, the difference between a potentially outstanding result and a disastrous situation can sometimes come down to a single decision. At Sepang, Ferrari experienced both extremes during one of the most chaotic races of the season.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both started on Soft tyres despite the circuit still being wet following the torrential rain earlier in the day. The choice sent the two Ferraris tumbling down the order and more than a minute behind the drivers who had selected intermediates.
At that stage, Ferrari’s hopes of a strong result appeared to have disappeared. Instead, with Benedetto Vigna watching from the garage, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc launched a major recovery that ultimately carried the seven-time world champion onto the podium and the Monegasque driver into fourth place.
The performance of both SF-26s was strong for much of the race. The only phase that raised some questions was Lewis Hamilton’s stint on the Medium compound, although that appeared to concern the behaviour of the tyre rather than the underlying performance of the car. The different compounds and stint sequences can be explored further through the F1 Tyre & Stint Analysis.
That pace inevitably created some regret over the original tyre decision. After the race, however, Frédéric Vasseur explained to Sky Italia why Ferrari had not divided the strategy between its two cars.
“I think that when you’re convinced one option is better than the others, you have to go for it with both drivers. McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes did the same as well. Fifty per cent of the cars on the grid chose intermediates, while the others chose dry tyres.”
Frédéric Vasseur stressed that judging the call afterwards was much easier than making it before the start, when Ferrari had very limited information available.
“Clearly, after the race it is easier to say that one choice is better than another. But when you are in the pit lane before the start of the race, you only have information from the grid. And nothing else. On the first lap you discover whether the choice is right or not. But at that point, coming in to change tyres is too late.”
The gamble was particularly significant because Ferrari had entered the weekend with reasons to believe the available compounds could suit the SF-26, an issue explored in more detail in ScuderiaFans’ analysis of Pirelli’s Sepang tyre compounds and Ferrari.
Frédéric Vasseur addresses unusual power problems behind Safety Car
Frédéric Vasseur also offered a brief explanation for the strange problems that affected several cars during the formation procedure behind the Safety Car. Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Gabriel Bortoleto and a Cadillac all stopped or suffered a loss of power.
“Everything started with Max Verstappen. He lost the engine on the out-lap, then it happened to Lewis Hamilton and also to Gabriel Bortoleto. I don’t think it is completely clear, but it seems to have been an FIA software problem. When the red flag came, changes were made and everything worked.”
The problem added another unusual element to a race weekend that Ferrari ultimately judged positively despite the costly opening strategy.
Ferrari pace leaves Frédéric Vasseur encouraged despite tyre mistake
Looking at the weekend as a whole, Frédéric Vasseur was satisfied with the competitiveness shown by the SF-26. Ferrari performed strongly both over a single lap and during the race, producing pace comparable with the cars fighting for victory.
Max Verstappen was probably beyond the reach of the rest of the field on race day, but second place may not have been unrealistic for Ferrari without the enormous amount of time lost at the beginning.
“Overall, ours was a strong and convincing performance. There was certainly a strange test to get through with the choices on the grid, but overall it went well. Yesterday’s qualifying was positive, and today we came back from 20th and 21st to third and fourth. And both cars had excellent pace.”
Frédéric Vasseur also highlighted how much work Charles Leclerc’s side of the garage had to do throughout the race while still securing fourth place.
“If we also think about all the times we called Charles Leclerc in to change tyres and we still finished third and fourth, it is a very good result. Now we are back on track in seven days and we will try to do better in Singapore.”
Ferrari therefore leaves Sepang with both satisfaction and regret: the initial gamble badly compromised its race, but the subsequent recovery demonstrated the competitiveness of the SF-26. The next opportunity arrives quickly, with Singapore following on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.
Ferrari team radio reveals mixed emotions after Lewis Hamilton P3 and Charles Leclerc P4 at Sepang
Ferrari completed a remarkable recovery at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, with Lewis Hamilton climbing back to third place and Charles Leclerc finishing immediately behind in fourth. Yet the post-race team radio revealed very different emotions inside the two SF-26 cockpits: Lewis Hamilton praised the team’s pit stops and strategy but felt more had been possible, while Charles Leclerc was deeply dissatisfied with the car’s pace and balance.
The final result represented a major turnaround after an extremely difficult opening phase of the race. Software problems affected both Ferrari drivers during the laps behind the Safety Car, before the team’s decision to use dry-weather Soft tyres on a track that was still too wet left both cars tumbling towards the back of the field.
Ferrari recovers from a nightmare start at Sepang
The beginning of Ferrari’s Bahrain GP was far from ideal. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were first affected by software issues while running behind the Safety Car. After the restart, the choice to fit Soft tyres compounded the situation because the Sepang asphalt remained wet enough to require Intermediate tyres.
Both Ferrari drivers quickly found themselves near the rear of the field, leaving the team facing a major recovery job. The race then swung back towards the Scuderia following the Safety Car triggered by Valtteri Bottas.
From there, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc mounted a significant comeback. The Briton eventually secured third place, ending Ferrari’s podium drought dating back to the Belgian Grand Prix in July, while the Monegasque followed closely in fourth.
The scale of the recovery can be followed through the ScuderiaFans F1 Race Position & Progression Tracker, while further coverage of both drivers is available in the dedicated Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc sections.
Lewis Hamilton praises Ferrari strategy but sees missed opportunity
Lewis Hamilton’s third place finally returned Ferrari to the podium after several difficult races. His race engineer Carlo Santi acknowledged the significance of the result over team radio after the chequered flag.
Carlo Santi said: “Well done, Lewis! Back on the podium after a while. You deserve much more, but let’s enjoy this.”
Lewis Hamilton replied: “Yes guys, great job with the pit stops and the strategy during the race. Obviously there was more on the table for us today, but we’ll learn for next time.”
The seven-time world champion’s reaction reflected both sides of Ferrari’s afternoon. The team had recovered impressively from a disastrous opening phase and converted the opportunity created by the later Safety Car into a podium, yet Lewis Hamilton still believed the final outcome did not represent the maximum that had been available.
Charles Leclerc delivers blunt verdict on Ferrari pace
Charles Leclerc’s mood was considerably less positive despite finishing just one place behind his teammate. The Monegasque immediately focused on the underlying performance of the SF-26 rather than the recovery itself.
Bryan Bozzi informed him: “And P4.”
Charles Leclerc responded: “A very disappointing race. The pace was terrible. We’ll talk afterwards because I think we were really out of place with the car. From my side, it felt really, really bad. We were nowhere, were we?”
Bryan Bozzi replied: “I wouldn’t say that, but we’ll do an analysis afterwards.”
Charles Leclerc’s comments highlighted a concern that the fourth-place finish alone could not fully capture. Although Ferrari recovered strongly in terms of track position, the Monegasque was clearly unhappy with how the car behaved and with the race pace he had experienced from inside the cockpit.
Mixed emotions despite Ferrari P3 and P4
The contrast between the two team-radio exchanges summed up Ferrari’s Bahrain GP at Sepang. Lewis Hamilton could appreciate the podium and the work carried out during the race while still recognising that opportunities had been missed. Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, was far more critical of the SF-26’s underlying performance despite recovering to fourth.
For Ferrari, P3 and P4 ultimately represented an impressive rescue after the software trouble and tyre mistake that had threatened to derail the race completely. However, the post-race messages from both drivers also made clear that the final classification did not erase the questions raised by the car’s pace and the decisions made during the opening stages.
Further analysis of the SF-26 and Ferrari’s evolving performance characteristics is available in the Ferrari technical analysis section.
Ferrari tyre mistake costs heavily before Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc fight back | F1 Bahrain GP review
Ferrari recovered from a disastrous start to finish the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang with Lewis Hamilton on the podium in third place and Charles Leclerc immediately behind in fourth. The result represented a major turnaround for the Maranello team, which had effectively compromised the opening phase of the race with an extremely risky tyre decision on a wet track before the true pace of the SF-26 emerged later in the afternoon.
Round 16 of the Formula 1 season began in extremely difficult conditions. Heavy rain and strong winds hit Sepang while the Safety Car continued circulating and itself appeared to be struggling to stay clear of the barriers. Race Control had little choice but to postpone the start.
Hybrid software problems delay the Bahrain GP start
When conditions appeared good enough for the cars to prepare for the start, a series of problems emerged involving the hybrid systems. In simple terms, several power units were not functioning correctly in the unusual conditions.
The red flag followed and the entire field returned to the pit lane. The underlying issue concerned the predictive software used to manage the power units. The systems automatically adjust energy harvesting and deployment according to how the car is operating, but the extreme weather conditions disrupted those calculations and the electronics were unable to manage the situation correctly. When the system could no longer handle the conditions, power was cut.
Ferrari was among those affected. Lewis Hamilton was forced to switch off his SF-26 and perform what is known as a “power cycle”, restarting the system before he could continue.
Even after the rain had stopped and the starting procedure could theoretically resume, the engineers needed additional time. The power units had to be reprogrammed and the information previously processed by the software had to be cleared before the cars could safely return to the circuit.
Once those issues had been resolved, at least in theory, the drivers climbed back into their cars and the engines were restarted. The circuit remained wet, however, and Ferrari’s decision to fit Soft slick tyres was immediately a major gamble.
Ferrari takes a major risk with Soft tyres
Tyres quickly became the central topic on the radio. Mercedes and Red Bull had opted for intermediates, while McLaren selected Medium slicks. Ferrari asked its drivers to remain patient for several laps, expecting the asphalt to dry sufficiently for the Soft compound to become effective.
The cars had already completed three laps behind the Safety Car, so the track surface had undoubtedly improved. It was still nowhere near dry enough.
When the grid formed for a standing start, Lewis Hamilton strongly disagreed with Ferrari’s strategy and believed it would take at least ten laps before the Soft tyres could work properly. Charles Leclerc shared the same assessment.
The start confirmed their concerns. Both Ferraris immediately fell towards the back of the field because the slick tyres simply could not generate enough performance on the damp surface.
Charles Leclerc was called into the pits, while Lewis Hamilton elected to remain on track and continue with the gamble. By lap six, Charles Leclerc was alone in 20th place, one minute and 15 seconds behind the leader. Lewis Hamilton was 17th and circulating approximately ten seconds per lap slower than drivers using intermediate tyres.
At that point, Ferrari’s race appeared almost completely compromised.
Ferrari comeback begins as the track dries
By lap ten, Lewis Hamilton finally started producing competitive lap times, confirming his earlier estimate that the Soft tyres would need time before becoming effective. A Safety Car was then triggered by a problem for Valtteri Bottas, giving much of the field an opportunity to stop and switch to dry-weather tyres.
Charles Leclerc also stopped, while Lewis Hamilton remained on track. Before the restart, the two Ferraris were running 15th and 17th respectively.
The situation changed rapidly once racing resumed. Lewis Hamilton gained three places immediately, while Charles Leclerc moved forward by one position. Over the following laps, the track continued to dry and the performance of the SF-26 became increasingly evident.
Ferrari now had the pace to launch a genuine recovery, although the huge amount of race time lost during the opening phase remained impossible to ignore. With hindsight, the obvious question was what the Scuderia might have achieved had it started on intermediate tyres rather than sacrificing more than a minute early in the race.
Lewis Hamilton needed four laps to pass Oscar Piastri’s McLaren and claim eighth place. He then overtook Arvid Lindblad and Esteban Ocon to reach sixth. The presence of trains of cars all able to use overboost made overtaking more difficult, but the Ferrari driver continued making progress and received repeated praise over the radio.
Ferrari then had to begin thinking about tyre preservation. Lewis Hamilton’s Soft tyres had already completed 22 laps, so he was asked to avoid pushing too aggressively under traction.
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, finally passed Lando Norris and began chasing the group ahead containing Nico Hulkenberg, Oscar Piastri and Arvid Lindblad. The race was beginning to come back towards Ferrari, although the opening mistake continued to weigh heavily on its prospects.
Lewis Hamilton becomes the fastest driver on track
Lewis Hamilton passed Liam Lawson and began targeting fourth place, occupied by Isack Hadjar. On lap 25, Ferrari delivered its first tyre-phase update. The British driver responded positively over the radio: “The tyres are excellent and I feel good.”
At that stage of the race, Lewis Hamilton was actually the fastest driver on the circuit. Charles Leclerc was also pushing hard and had recovered to ninth, although his pace was not quite as strong as that of his teammate.
Charles Leclerc stopped again on lap 30 for another new set of Soft tyres and returned to the track in 12th place. Shortly afterwards, Lewis Hamilton reported that his tyres were beginning to struggle. Even so, apart from Max Verstappen, his pace remained stronger than the other Red Bull and both Mercedes cars ahead.
Ferrari therefore brought Lewis Hamilton in for his first stop at the same time as Isack Hadjar, switching the seven-time world champion onto Medium tyres.
The pair were separated by around one and a half seconds and now occupied sixth and seventh. Charles Leclerc was ninth and, despite having complained about the performance only two laps earlier, set the fastest lap of the race.
Lewis Hamilton was not particularly satisfied with the yellow-walled Pirellis because he felt they lacked the performance he had expected. In reality, however, he was the fastest driver on track and had already closed onto the rear of the Red Bull ahead.
The challenge was to manage the Medium tyres because they still needed to last for at least another 22 laps. Charles Leclerc was 14 seconds further back. Once again, Ferrari had reason to regret the opening tyre gamble: the SF-26 clearly had strong race pace and could potentially have fought much closer to the front without the enormous early loss.
The importance of the changing compounds, stint lengths and tyre life throughout the Grand Prix can also be explored through the F1 Tyre & Stint Analysis.
Lewis Hamilton reaches the podium as Charles Leclerc takes fourth
Lewis Hamilton spent seven laps following Isack Hadjar without finding a way past. He could close on the main straight, but the Red Bull driver was able to rebuild a small margin through the second sector, leaving the Ferrari without enough speed to complete the move.
The Maranello pit wall therefore proposed a different approach: Lewis Hamilton should keep applying pressure in an attempt to force the Red Bull ahead to consume more battery energy, potentially creating an opportunity to attack later.
Before that plan could fully develop, another Virtual Safety Car was called. Ferrari reacted with a double pit stop and placed both SF-26s back onto Soft tyres. Lewis Hamilton emerged in sixth behind Oscar Piastri, while Charles Leclerc was behind Liam Lawson.
Isack Hadjar also changed tyres and retained fourth place. Oscar Piastri initially separated the Ferrari from its target, but the McLaren driver then changed course and entered the pits as the Virtual Safety Car became a full Safety Car.
The field was now compressed, giving Ferrari the opportunity it needed.
The race restarted with only four laps remaining after George Russell was forced to retire with a power unit problem. Lewis Hamilton moved into fourth, with Charles Leclerc fifth.
Lewis Hamilton needed only one lap to pass Isack Hadjar and move into third. Charles Leclerc completed the same move two laps later, putting the two Ferraris into third and fourth, where they remained until the chequered flag.
Ferrari had therefore completed an impressive recovery and returned to the podium despite badly compromising its own race at the start. Yet the final result also brought considerable frustration. Once the track dried, the SF-26 showed enough performance to fight near the front, making the decision to begin the race on slick tyres even more costly in hindsight.
The broader development of the SF-26 and the technical choices behind its performance can be followed through ScuderiaFans’ Ferrari technical analysis.
2026 F1 constructors’ standings: Ferrari opens 89-point gap over McLaren after Sepang
Ferrari strengthened its hold on second place in the 2026 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship after the Malaysian Grand Prix, scoring 27 points at Sepang compared with only 10 for McLaren. The result leaves the Maranello team on 405 points, 89 clear of its Woking rival, although Mercedes continues to lead the championship with 556.
The result was particularly significant for Ferrari after a difficult start to the race caused by an incorrect tyre choice. Despite that early setback, the Scuderia recovered strongly and returned to the podium with Lewis Hamilton, ultimately collecting 27 points from the weekend.
Ferrari extends its advantage over McLaren in the 2026 F1 standings
Ferrari therefore gained another 17 points on McLaren in Malaysia. With 405 points compared with McLaren’s 316, the gap between the two teams now stands at 89 points in the fight for second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
The developing comparison between the Maranello team and its main rivals can also be followed through the Ferrari vs F1 Rivals statistics, while the remaining rounds are listed in the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.
2026 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship standings after the Malaysian GP
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 556 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 405 |
| 3 | McLaren | 316 |
| 4 | Red Bull | 298 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 90 |
| 6 | Alpine | 68 |
| 7 | Haas | 27 |
| 8 | Audi | 17 |
| 9 | Williams | 12 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 7 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |
Ferrari’s advantage over McLaren was not the only gap to increase at Sepang. Racing Bulls added another seven points to its cushion over Alpine and now holds fifth place with 90 points compared with Alpine’s 68.
Fernando Alonso also delivered an excellent eighth-place finish, helping Aston Martin move to within five points of Williams. Aston Martin now has seven points, while Williams remains ninth in the championship on 12.
At the front, Mercedes retains a commanding lead with 556 points, 151 ahead of Ferrari. For the Scuderia, however, the Malaysian Grand Prix represented another important step in consolidating second place after outscoring McLaren by a substantial margin.
Bahrain GP: Lewis Hamilton third and Charles Leclerc fourth after chaotic Ferrari recovery
Max Verstappen won a chaotic Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang, completing his strongest weekend of the season, while Lewis Hamilton produced a remarkable recovery to give Ferrari a podium after a disastrous start. Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished second and strengthened his championship position after Mercedes teammate George Russell suffered a late retirement, while Charles Leclerc recovered to fourth for the Maranello team.
The race will be remembered for a dramatic opening, heavy rain, repeated interruptions, changing tyre strategies and a frantic final phase. Ferrari initially appeared to have compromised its afternoon with the wrong tyre choice, but both drivers climbed back through the field, with Lewis Hamilton ultimately taking third and Charles Leclerc finishing immediately behind in fourth.
Heavy rain delays the Malaysian Grand Prix start
Formula 1 returned to racing in Malaysia after nine years, following a weekend in which the competitive order had never become completely clear. Max Verstappen had narrowly missed victory in Azerbaijan before securing his first pole position of the season at Sepang, taking advantage of strong Red Bull performance and putting himself in position to target his first victory of the year.
Nothing was straightforward, however. The rain that had been expected throughout the weekend arrived heavily on Sunday, marking the first wet running of this generation of Formula 1 cars. Strategy plans had to be completely reconsidered after Pirelli had originally anticipated a two-stop race in normal conditions.
The conditions became severe enough to delay the start, with large sections of the Malaysian circuit effectively undriveable while the rain continued to fall. The wider weekend information can be found in the Sepang Grand Prix schedule and circuit guide.
Software problem causes confusion during formation laps
At 15:40 local time, after around 40 minutes of waiting, the FIA finally gave the green light and the field prepared to start on intermediate tyres.
During the formation laps behind the Safety Car, Max Verstappen suffered an accelerator problem that slowed the field. After the Red Bull driver managed to restore normal operation, Lewis Hamilton then experienced the same issue in his Ferrari.
The Ferrari driver initially slowed the group before being forced to stop his car at the side of the track. A Haas and a Cadillac also encountered the same problem. After performing resets from their steering wheels, the affected drivers were able to continue.
The problem was linked to software management in the wet conditions and the unusually low speeds at which the cars were circulating. The confusion ultimately prompted the FIA to suspend the starting procedure, sending the cars back to the pit lane until further notice.
Ferrari slick gamble backfires at the start
More than an hour and a half after the original start time, the cars returned to the circuit. Conditions had changed significantly. The track remained damp, but several drivers opted for slick tyres.
Both Ferraris selected the Soft compound, while both McLarens initially went out on Mediums. Oscar Piastri then made a last-minute decision to switch back to intermediates, following the choice made by much of the field.
The start immediately became chaotic. Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell reacted quickest and moved Mercedes into first and second, with Max Verstappen third. Liam Lawson followed in fourth ahead of Isack Hadjar.
Ferrari suffered badly. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both lost ground on a visibly damp track, while Charles Leclerc made contact with Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi and damaged his front wing. The Monegasque was forced to pit for repairs and switched to intermediate tyres.
Lewis Hamilton remained on slicks, but Charles Leclerc soon caught him again despite having already made his pit stop. By lap six, Max Verstappen had passed George Russell to move into second place.
Safety Car helps reset the race as Lewis Hamilton fights back
Max Verstappen attacked Andrea Kimi Antonelli on lap nine, but Valtteri Bottas went into the gravel further back and triggered a Safety Car. The interruption produced another rush of pit stops and dramatically reshuffled the strategic picture.
Mercedes fitted Medium tyres to both cars, while Red Bull chose Softs. Ferrari also switched both cars to Softs, although Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were now deep in the field. Racing Bulls placed both of its cars on the Hard compound.
The race resumed on lap 13, with Max Verstappen taking the lead and George Russell passing Andrea Kimi Antonelli for second. Max Verstappen then established a clearly stronger pace on the Soft tyre and built a gap over the Mercedes pair.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli subsequently showed stronger pace than George Russell and reclaimed second place, setting off once again in pursuit of the race leader.
Further back, Lewis Hamilton began rebuilding his race. The Ferrari driver moved into the points and continued climbing until reaching fifth place. The changing running order throughout the chaotic race can be followed through the F1 Race Position & Progression Tracker.
Lewis Hamilton puts fourth place under pressure
Charles Leclerc stopped again on lap 29 after recovering into the top ten, fitting another set of the softest compound. Arvid Lindblad stopped at around the same time for new Hard tyres, with Liam Lawson making the same choice.
Isack Hadjar switched to Softs, while Lewis Hamilton moved onto Medium tyres. The leading three drivers were the final contenders to stop and all selected Soft tyres.
Around ten seconds behind the top three, Lewis Hamilton began closing on Isack Hadjar. The Ferrari driver set the provisional fastest lap and put fourth place firmly within reach.
Tyre degradation was expected to become decisive in the closing stages. McLaren endured a relatively anonymous race, with Oscar Piastri only seventh at that stage behind Charles Leclerc, who had recovered to sixth but remained well behind his Ferrari teammate. Lando Norris was eighth, while Fernando Alonso had moved Aston Martin into the points.
The different compound choices and stint sequences were central to how the race developed, with the strategies available for comparison through the F1 Tyre & Stint Analysis.
Late Safety Car reopens the Malaysian GP
Heading into the final quarter of the race, attention centred on the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Isack Hadjar. The Briton had closed the gap to the Red Bull driver but was finding it more difficult than expected to complete the decisive overtake.
On lap 44, Alexander Albon suffered a gearbox problem and parked his Williams at the side of the circuit, triggering a Virtual Safety Car.
Max Verstappen immediately stopped and temporarily surrendered the lead while fitting a fresh set of Soft tyres. Mercedes responded on the following lap by stopping both Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell for new Softs, restoring the previous order.
Both Ferrari drivers also stopped, along with Isack Hadjar, the McLaren drivers and much of the remainder of the field. Difficulties removing Alexander Albon’s Williams then required a full Safety Car, reopening the contest with only a few kilometres remaining.
Max Verstappen wins as Lewis Hamilton completes Ferrari comeback
While the race was still under Safety Car conditions, George Russell suffered a power unit problem and was forced into a dramatic retirement. Lando Norris also made a mistake, running deep under braking at Turn 1 and dropping outside the points.
With only four laps remaining, racing resumed for a frantic finish. Max Verstappen executed the restart cleanly and retained the lead ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Lewis Hamilton completed his recovery by overtaking Isack Hadjar and moving into the podium positions. On the penultimate lap, Charles Leclerc also passed the Red Bull driver to take fourth place.
Max Verstappen crossed the line to win the Malaysian Grand Prix after an outstanding weekend. Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished second and gained 18 points on the retired George Russell in the championship battle.
Lewis Hamilton completed the podium in third after recovering from a race that had looked almost lost in the opening kilometres. Charles Leclerc’s fourth place further strengthened Ferrari’s recovery, turning an extremely difficult opening phase into a P3-P4 finish for the Scuderia.
Isack Hadjar finished fifth ahead of Oscar Piastri and Liam Lawson. Fernando Alonso also scored points for Aston Martin, while Lando Norris and Arvid Lindblad completed the top ten. Ferrari’s recovery from its difficult start can also be viewed through the Ferrari Qualifying & Race Performance Statistics.
2026 F1 Bahrain GP results: full finishing order from Sepang
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed victory in a dramatic Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, with the race finally reaching its conclusion more than three hours after the originally scheduled start.
The complete Sepang race classification is available below.
1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2 Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +2.3s
3 Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +4.9s
4 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +7.2s
5 Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +8.5s
6 Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +9.4s
7 Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +12.7s
8 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +13.3s
9 Lando Norris (McLaren) +13.9s
10 Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +15.9s
10 Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) +17.4s
12 Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +18.0s
13 Franco Colapinto (Alpine) +18.9s
14 Ollie Bearman (Haas) +22.3s
15 Esteban Ocon (Haas) +22.5s
16 Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +23.3s
17 Carlos Sainz (Williams) +25.4s
18 Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) +28.2s
19 Sergio Perez (Cadillac) +29.3s
DNF: George Russell (Mercedes), Alex Albon (Williams), Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
Sepang: Charles Leclerc pits before Lewis Hamilton as Ferrari targets possible Oscar Piastri undercut
Ferrari made an intriguing strategic move on lap 29 of the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang by bringing Charles Leclerc into the pits before Lewis Hamilton, despite the Monegasque running on Soft tyres that were 10 laps fresher than those of his teammate. The decision immediately raised the possibility that Ferrari was attempting to create an undercut opportunity against Oscar Piastri.
Charles Leclerc rejoined the race in 13th position after his stop. The timing was notable because, based purely on tyre age, Lewis Hamilton might have appeared the more obvious Ferrari to pit first. Instead, the Scuderia reversed that expectation and committed Charles Leclerc to the earlier stop.
Charles Leclerc pits despite fresher Soft tyres
At the moment Ferrari called Charles Leclerc in, his Soft tyres had completed 10 fewer laps than those fitted to Lewis Hamilton’s car. That made the stop stand out from a straightforward tyre-life perspective.
There was no confirmed explanation from Ferrari at that stage for why Charles Leclerc had been brought in first. What was clear was that the team did not appear to be waiting for an immediate change in conditions, because committing to the stop suggested Ferrari was comfortable continuing with a dry-race strategy at that point.
| Detail | Charles Leclerc |
|---|---|
| Pit stop lap | Lap 29 of 55 |
| Tyre age versus Lewis Hamilton | 10 laps fresher before stop |
| Position after pit stop | P13 |
| Possible strategic target | Oscar Piastri undercut |
Ferrari may have been targeting Oscar Piastri
The most obvious strategic interpretation was that Ferrari wanted to use Charles Leclerc’s fresh tyres to attack Oscar Piastri through an undercut. By stopping first, the Monegasque would have the opportunity to exploit the pace of the new tyre while the McLaren driver remained on track.
However, that remained an interpretation rather than a confirmed Ferrari instruction. No team radio or official explanation was provided in the available information to establish that Oscar Piastri was definitely the target.
The move nevertheless fitted the logic of an undercut attempt: sacrifice track position temporarily, generate a stronger out-lap on fresh tyres and potentially gain the position when the rival eventually makes a stop of their own.
Lewis Hamilton stays out as Ferrari splits its timing
Lewis Hamilton remaining on track created a clear difference between the two Ferrari strategies at that stage of the race. With the Briton carrying older Soft tyres, the decision to leave him out while stopping Charles Leclerc indicated that Ferrari was not simply ordering its stops according to tyre age.
That made the sequencing particularly interesting. Charles Leclerc’s P13 rejoin meant his strategy depended heavily on what happened around the cars he was trying to jump, while Lewis Hamilton continued his existing stint.
Whether the decision succeeded would depend on subsequent pit stops and the pace Charles Leclerc could produce on his new tyres. At the moment of the stop, however, Ferrari had clearly chosen an aggressive timing call for the Monegasque rather than waiting for his fresher Soft tyres to reach the same age as those on Lewis Hamilton’s car.
Ferrari strategy becomes a key Bahrain GP storyline
The lap-29 stop added another strategic dimension to Ferrari’s Bahrain GP at Sepang. Charles Leclerc had the tyre-age advantage over his teammate, yet the Scuderia chose to pit him first and send him back into traffic in 13th position.
If the objective was indeed to undercut Oscar Piastri, the decision showed Ferrari prioritising track-position opportunities over simply extending the fresher set of Soft tyres. Until the following pit-stop cycle played out, however, the exact gain from the move remained unresolved.
Lewis Hamilton passes Oscar Piastri, Arvid Lindblad and Esteban Ocon in rapid Sepang charge
Lewis Hamilton climbed from ninth to sixth in the space of just three laps after putting together a rapid sequence of overtakes on Oscar Piastri, Arvid Lindblad and Esteban Ocon. The Ferrari driver’s progress began on lap 19 and quickly turned into one of the most productive phases of his race.
The most significant move came first. Lewis Hamilton attacked Oscar Piastri around the outside on lap 19 to take eighth place, before immediately closing on the two cars ahead. One lap later Arvid Lindblad was cleared, and by lap 21 Esteban Ocon had also been overtaken, leaving Hamilton sixth and less than one second behind Liam Lawson in fifth.
Lewis Hamilton gains three places in three laps
The sequence began with Lewis Hamilton running behind Oscar Piastri. Rather than remaining trapped in the group, the Ferrari driver completed the pass around the outside and moved into eighth position on lap 19.
That overtake proved to be the start of a much faster progression through the order. On lap 20, Lewis Hamilton passed Arvid Lindblad at the opening corner to take seventh, putting Esteban Ocon directly ahead.
There was little delay before the next position changed hands. Lewis Hamilton moved past Esteban Ocon on lap 21 and climbed to sixth, completing three overtakes on consecutive laps.
| Lap | Driver passed | Hamilton’s new position | Race situation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Oscar Piastri | P8 | Hamilton completed the pass around the outside |
| 20 | Arvid Lindblad | P7 | Hamilton moved ahead at the first corner |
| 21 | Esteban Ocon | P6 | Hamilton moved to within one second of Liam Lawson |
Liam Lawson becomes Hamilton’s next target
Once Esteban Ocon had been cleared, Lewis Hamilton was no longer simply recovering positions within the same group. The Ferrari driver had moved to within one second of Liam Lawson, who occupied fifth place at that stage of the race.
That gap was important because it showed Hamilton’s charge had not ended with the three overtakes. He had closed sufficiently quickly to bring another position into immediate range, although the available information does not establish whether he was able to complete a fourth pass shortly afterwards.
The progression from ninth to sixth was nevertheless significant on its own. Three different rivals were dispatched over three consecutive laps, with Hamilton requiring no extended period behind either Arvid Lindblad or Esteban Ocon once Oscar Piastri had been overtaken.
Different picture further back for Lando Norris
While Lewis Hamilton was moving through the order, Lando Norris was experiencing a very different phase of the race. The McLaren driver was running 11th and remained behind Nico Hulkenberg as Hamilton completed his sequence of overtakes.
That contrast helped increase the immediate value of Hamilton’s progress. The Ferrari driver had successfully cleared traffic and reached sixth, while another front-running rival remained outside the top ten at the same point of the race.
Hamilton turns a difficult position into a top-six run
The three-lap sequence changed Lewis Hamilton’s race position quickly and decisively. From ninth before the move on Oscar Piastri, the Ferrari driver reached sixth by lap 21 and had Liam Lawson directly ahead.
Without additional information it would be premature to draw conclusions about Ferrari’s underlying pace, tyre condition or strategy from the overtakes alone. What can be established is that Hamilton was able to convert a short window of opportunity into three consecutive position gains and put himself back into the fight further up the order.
Ferrari gambles on slicks and sinks at the start in Malaysia with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
Ferrari’s decision to start the Malaysian Grand Prix on Soft slick tyres unfortunately backfired immediately at Sepang, compromising the race for both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The Maranello team was not alone in taking the gamble, with several other teams, including McLaren, also choosing dry-weather tyres, but the decision proved costly once the race properly got under way.
Ferrari’s slick-tyre gamble fails at Sepang
For what ultimately became the true start of the Malaysian Grand Prix, Ferrari elected to take a risk with the Soft slick compound. The conditions remained difficult enough, however, for that choice not to pay off.
There had already been two laps behind the Safety Car, during which some drivers reconsidered their tyre choice. Sergio Perez and Oscar Piastri were among those who returned to the pits to switch to intermediate tyres before the start.
Ferrari went in the opposite direction. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc remained on slick tyres, which proved to be the wrong option when the lights went out.
Charles Leclerc damages front wing after contact
The situation became even more difficult for Charles Leclerc at the Berjaya hairpin. The Ferrari driver made contact with Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi from behind and damaged his front wing.
As a result, Charles Leclerc returned to the pits because of the damage and fitted slick tyres again. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, remained committed to Ferrari’s original gamble and stayed out on slicks.
The opening phase therefore left both Ferrari drivers dealing with the consequences of a tyre choice that failed to match the conditions, with the Scuderia’s Malaysian Grand Prix compromised almost immediately.
Lewis Hamilton hit by 2026 F1 software glitch as Sepang start is suspended
Lewis Hamilton and several other Formula 1 drivers were caught up in an extraordinary technical problem before the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang even began, as software issues forced cars to slow dramatically or stop during the Safety Car start procedure. The resulting chaos ultimately prompted Race Control to suspend the procedure and send the field back to the pits.
The unusual episode exposed an unexpected side effect of the new-generation 2026 power units during the first occasion this season on which the drivers had been required to deal with such prolonged low-speed running behind the Safety Car. Lewis Hamilton was particularly affected, with the Ferrari driver appearing at one stage to be heading for retirement before successfully resetting the system and getting moving again.
Sepang start delayed as rain forces Safety Car procedure
The race in Malaysia had originally been scheduled to start at 09:00, but heavy rain delayed proceedings. When the start procedure finally began, the cars were sent out behind the Safety Car because of the conditions at the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang.
It was the first time during the 2026 season that the drivers had been required to manage this particular situation with the new cars, and it immediately produced significant complications.
The software systems, which were not accustomed to the engines operating at such a low speed for an extended period, began causing problems for several cars. Ferrari-powered machinery appeared to be particularly affected after Max Verstappen encountered the first issue and slowed the group.
Lewis Hamilton forced to stop and reset his Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton was one of the most dramatic examples. The Ferrari slowed to such an extent that retirement initially appeared possible, but the British driver was able to perform a reset while stationary and subsequently resumed running at full power. Max Verstappen had managed to carry out his reset while still moving.
The incident created an unusual situation for the Ferrari driver before the race had even started. Further coverage of his weekend and the team’s performances can be found in the dedicated Lewis Hamilton Ferrari news section.
The disruption then divided the field into several groups. Under the regulations, drivers were reluctant to overtake Lewis Hamilton while his Ferrari was moving slowly ahead of them, further complicating the formation behind the Safety Car.
Haas and Cadillac also stop as Race Control abandons procedure
The problems were not confined to Lewis Hamilton. Haas and Cadillac cars also encountered difficulties and came to a stop so that their systems could be reset.
With several cars affected and the field no longer running together in an orderly formation, Race Control eventually suspended the starting procedure and instructed everybody to return to the pits.
The episode provided another unusual challenge in a season already defined by completely new Formula 1 power-unit technology. Mechanical failures, retirements and finishing rates throughout the new technical era can also be followed through the F1 Reliability & DNF Statistics.
2026 F1 power units reveal an unexpected low-speed problem
From one perspective, teething problems were always possible given that this was the first time the new cars had encountered these particular operating conditions in 2026. Nevertheless, what happened at Sepang was far from an ideal advertisement for the new technology.
The episode highlighted a significant side effect of the 2026 power units: running for a prolonged period at unusually low engine speeds behind the Safety Car was enough to create software problems serious enough to leave multiple cars requiring resets.
The unusual Malaysian race is part of a heavily revised championship schedule, with the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place at Sepang on 4 October as shown in the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. Before racing could begin, however, the new-generation cars had already delivered one of the strangest technical episodes of the season.
Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna reveals what he found inside the team at Sepang
Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna has responded to the wave of rumours surrounding the Maranello team, stressing that Ferrari remains focused on its own reality and praising the unity and determination he found inside the squad at Sepang. Speaking shortly before the delayed start of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Benedetto Vigna also addressed Ferrari’s recent run without a podium and made clear that competitiveness remains the overriding priority.
Benedetto Vigna was present in Malaysia to support Ferrari during a weekend that has already generated considerable attention around the team. The Italian executive spoke to Sky Italia while Formula 1 waited for conditions to allow the delayed Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang to get under way.
Benedetto Vigna praises unity inside Ferrari
The Ferrari CEO explained that his trip to Sepang had been planned for some time and highlighted the atmosphere he encountered within the team.
“I had been planning to come here for a while, and what I liked – speaking to my colleagues this morning – was finding a united, determined team that always wants to do better. Today all the ‘red shirts’ around me were more than convinced, more than determined. So it is always very nice when you see all your colleagues so motivated and united.”
The comments arrive during a period in which speculation around Ferrari has intensified, including questions surrounding the team’s leadership and long-term direction. The debate has also placed renewed attention on Ferrari’s communication and the rumours surrounding the team.
Ferrari CEO responds to recent rumours
Benedetto Vigna also directly addressed the many stories that have emerged around Ferrari in recent weeks, making clear that the company prefers to concentrate on what is actually happening internally.
“What matters to us is reality. And there is only one reality, and that is what matters to us and should matter to everyone. But that’s fine, the important thing is to learn how to manage these situations.”
Ferrari has repeatedly sought to reinforce the message of stability during the recent speculation, with the team also offering public support for its current management as comparisons with previous leadership changes have resurfaced. That wider context has recently included Ferrari’s renewed backing of Fred Vasseur.
Benedetto Vigna focuses on Ferrari competitiveness amid podium drought
Attention then returned to the immediate challenge at Sepang. Asked about Ferrari’s ongoing sequence of races without a podium, Benedetto Vigna emphasised that the key objective is to remain competitive regardless of the conditions.
“We expected the weather to be good. Yesterday the guys achieved a good result and today we will see, the important thing is to be competitive. The rain is there for us and it is there for the others too, and that is the beauty of live sport. It doesn’t apply only to us, it applies to everyone. So we will enjoy this race as soon as the water allows us to start and we will be competitive.”
The unusual weather therefore adds another variable to a weekend in which Ferrari is trying to convert its encouraging qualifying performance into a much-needed result. How the team performs relative to Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren can also be followed through the Ferrari vs F1 Rivals statistics.
For Benedetto Vigna, however, the message before the start was straightforward: Ferrari remains united internally, will not allow external speculation to define its direction and must now demonstrate its competitiveness on track.
F1 Bahrain GP live coverage from Sepang: Ferrari challenges Max Verstappen in Malaysia
Max Verstappen starts from pole position at Sepang, but Ferrari has every reason to attack in the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton will line up alongside the Red Bull driver on the front row, while Charles Leclerc moves onto the second row after Isack Hadjar’s grid penalty.
Follow the Bahrain GP race live from Malaysia, with the action at Sepang beginning at 09:00 CET. Ferrari heads into Sunday with a stronger opportunity than it had at the difficult Baku street circuit, while tyre management is expected to become one of the defining factors of the Grand Prix.
19:48 – The engines are warming up at Sepang in Malaysia, venue for the 2026 Formula 1 Bahrain GP. Follow the race live from 08:30 CET, with the Grand Prix scheduled to start at 09:00 CET. Full weekend timings and circuit information are available in the 2026 Bahrain GP at Sepang schedule and circuit guide.
Updated Bahrain GP starting grid at Sepang and all penalties
Max Verstappen emerged on top in the Malaysian heat, with the Hasselt-born driver returning to pole position for the first time since Abu Dhabi last year. The Red Bull driver produced an excellent qualifying performance on Saturday at Sepang, confirming the progress made with the Milton Keynes car.
Alongside Max Verstappen will be the Ferrari #44 of Lewis Hamilton. The British driver produced an excellent Q3 lap in a car that appeared well balanced, with its main weakness showing on the straights. Lewis Hamilton celebrated over the radio at the end of the session.
Ferrari, which has often been less convincing in qualifying, now has an opportunity to start near the front and fight for a major result. The Malaysian circuit appears considerably more favourable to the SF-26 than the difficult Baku street track.
The third-fastest time in Q3 was set by the other Red Bull of Isack Hadjar. However, the French driver must serve a grid penalty and will surrender his position to Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes. Ferrari can also take encouragement from Charles Leclerc’s result: after setting the fifth-fastest overall time, the Monegasque will start from the second row.
Isack Hadjar’s penalty is not the only sanction affecting the Sepang starting order. Check the complete Bahrain GP starting grid for all the latest changes.
Heat and tyre degradation could shape Ferrari’s Bahrain GP strategy
Tyre management is expected to be the key factor in the Malaysian Grand Prix. That has become one of the main themes around the Formula 1 paddock at Sepang, where Malaysia’s humid heat and the highly abrasive asphalt are expected to push teams towards a race featuring at least two pit stops.
In those conditions, Ferrari can be optimistic. The SF-26 has frequently shown itself to be relatively gentle on its tyres, meaning victory at Sepang does not appear out of reach. The choice of compounds and their behaviour in Malaysia could also play an important role, with Pirelli’s Sepang tyre compounds potentially suiting Ferrari’s SF-26 better than the previous round.
There are still significant threats. The race pace displayed by Ferrari’s rivals during free practice, particularly Red Bull and McLaren, appeared promising. Mercedes, meanwhile, did not show the same level of form despite bringing a substantial upgrade package and is still learning how to extract its potential.
However, the championship leaders cannot be underestimated. Kimi Antonelli is not far away and will start from the second row, leaving Ferrari with several major rivals to manage over what is expected to be a demanding race.
With high degradation likely to influence stint lengths and the timing of the expected multiple stops, the complete compound usage and race patterns can be followed through the F1 Tyre & Stint Analysis.
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