News Summary
- Kimi Antonelli described second place at Sepang as the maximum Mercedes could achieve.
- The Italian acknowledged that the team needs to improve after a difficult weekend.
- George Russell’s retirement allowed Antonelli to extend his championship lead to 84 points.
Kimi Antonelli left Sepang with an 84-point championship lead, but acknowledged that Mercedes still has work to do after finishing second in the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on Sunday, 4 October. The Italian led early on before Max Verstappen recovered to secure his first victory of the Formula 1 season.
Antonelli’s result provided a positive finish to a weekend in which Mercedes struggled to reproduce its usual competitiveness. Speaking after the race at Sepang, the championship leader accepted that second place reflected what the team could deliver.
“I think today was the maximum we could’ve done,” Antonelli said.
The Mercedes driver also acknowledged that the team had struggled more than usual and needed to work on its performance. Despite those difficulties, he welcomed the result.
“Really happy to come away with P2,” he added.
Antonelli leads before Verstappen fights back
Antonelli made a strong start when the race finally began after heavy rain and technical problems had disrupted the starting procedure. Both Mercedes drivers moved ahead of polesitter Verstappen, with Antonelli leading Russell during the opening phase.
However, Verstappen recovered and took control following the first Safety Car period. Antonelli also lost a position to Russell at the restart before passing his teammate later in the race to regain second place.
The Red Bull driver subsequently built an advantage that Mercedes could not overturn on pace. A late Safety Car brought Antonelli back into contention, but Verstappen controlled the final restart and retained the lead to the finish.
Antonelli crossed the line 2.307 seconds behind the winner, with Lewis Hamilton completing the podium after recovering from his difficult opening stint. The full Sepang race report and results explain how the changing conditions and Safety Car periods shaped the outcome.
Russell retirement increases championship gap
While Antonelli secured 18 points, Russell retired during the closing stages with a power unit problem. The result widened the gap between the Mercedes teammates from 66 to 84 points.
Antonelli now leads the championship with 320 points, ahead of Russell on 236. Hamilton remains third with 214, followed by Charles Leclerc on 191. Lando Norris and Verstappen both have 188 points, with Norris ahead in the standings.
The championship gain came despite Mercedes being beaten at Sepang. Antonelli’s assessment focused on the team’s need to recover performance, rather than treating second place as evidence that its difficulties had been resolved.
Formula 1 returns from 9–11 October for the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action throughout the weekend.
F1 today: FAQ
Who won the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang on Sunday, 4 October, taking his first victory of the 2026 F1 season. Kimi Antonelli finished second, with Lewis Hamilton completing the podium.
Why was the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia delayed?
Heavy rain initially delayed the start at Sepang. Several drivers then experienced power delivery problems during the formation procedure, forcing race control to suspend the start again. The race eventually began more than 90 minutes after its scheduled time.
How far ahead is Kimi Antonelli in the F1 championship?
Kimi Antonelli leads George Russell by 84 points after finishing second at Sepang while his Mercedes teammate retired. Antonelli has 320 points, Russell has 236 and Lewis Hamilton is third with 214.
