News Summary

George Russell admitted winning the 2026 championship is now “exceptionally unlikely” after another technical retirement cost him a likely podium in the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The Mercedes driver had been running third at Sepang before stopping during the closing stages, while teammate Kimi Antonelli finished second.

The result widened Antonelli’s lead from 66 to 84 points. Speaking after the race, Russell described a feeling that had moved beyond disappointment following repeated setbacks during the season.

“You’ve almost got to laugh. I’m beyond disappointment. So many times this season, it has happened. It is a real shame,” Russell said.

Russell had briefly run second behind Max Verstappen after the first Safety Car restart, before Antonelli passed him. He remained in contention for a podium until the late failure ended his race.

“Just keep on fighting. The podium looked very certain. Solid race, not amazing race, but solid race,” he continued.

The full Sepang race report and results detail how Verstappen secured his first victory of the season and Lewis Hamilton recovered to take the final podium place.

Russell acknowledges the damage to his title hopes

Russell stopped short of declaring the championship over, but acknowledged how difficult his position had become. He remains second in the standings with 236 points, while Antonelli has moved to 320.

“Not the first time, I am used to this feeling. I don’t need to say I think it’s gone or whatever, but of course [the title is] exceptionally unlikely,” Russell admitted.

The retirement was particularly costly because Russell had been on course to limit the damage to his teammate. Had they finished second and third, Antonelli would have gained only 3 points: 18 for second place against Russell’s 15 for third.

Instead, Russell scored nothing and lost 18 points to Antonelli. He also highlighted how different the championship consequences would have been had the retirement affected the other Mercedes.

“A three-point loss to Kimi turned into an 18-point loss. If it had been on the other side, it would have been an 18-point gain,” he explained.

Mercedes loses a podium after difficult Sepang weekend

The retirement compounded a challenging weekend for Mercedes, which had arrived with a major upgrade but struggled to match its expectations. Antonelli salvaged second place, while Verstappen converted Red Bull’s improved performance into victory.

Russell’s comments distinguished the race itself from the frustration of its ending. He regarded his performance as solid and the podium as attainable, making the technical failure another lost opportunity in his pursuit of Antonelli.

The Formula 1 season continues from 9–11 October with 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.