News Summary
- Verstappen joked that V8 engines would not have produced the problems witnessed before the Sepang race.
- Several drivers reported power delivery difficulties during the initial formation procedure.
- The Dutchman subsequently recovered to win the first race for Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
Max Verstappen took another swipe at Formula 1’s engine regulations after the chaotic starting procedure at Sepang, joking that a V8 would not have caused the problems that left several cars struggling to accelerate before the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Verstappen described watching a sizeable group of cars moving slowly during the disrupted procedure. His response combined laughter with another endorsement of the engines he would prefer the championship to use.
“I just saw eight or nine cars going like 30kph,” Verstappen said, laughing. “Oh well, that happens with these engines. With a V8 you don’t have these problems.”
Verstappen’s remark followed difficulties that also affected his own car. The Red Bull driver reported that he could not accelerate during the initial formation procedure, while Lewis Hamilton stopped on the main straight after reporting that pressing the throttle was producing no response.
Other drivers also encountered technical difficulties. Race control suspended the starting procedure and sent the field back to the pits, adding another interruption after heavy rain had already delayed the race.
Engine criticism follows first Red Bull–Ford victory
Verstappen’s criticism came on a day that ultimately delivered a milestone for his team. Once the race began, he recovered from losing positions to both Mercedes drivers and secured his first victory of 2026 and the first Grand Prix win for Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
The Dutchman finished ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Hamilton, controlling the final restart after a late Safety Car had removed his advantage. The full Sepang race report and results detail the interrupted start and subsequent battles.
His V8 comment expresses his assessment of the incident. It does not establish that every affected car suffered the same fault, or that an alternative engine configuration would necessarily have prevented every problem witnessed during the procedure.
Verstappen renews his preference for V8 engines
The remark also continues a position Verstappen had expressed before the Malaysian weekend. He has called for V8 engines with a smaller electrical contribution, alongside changes to the structure of race weekends.
His earlier explanation of the changes he wants in Formula 1 sets out that preference beyond the immediate circumstances of Sunday’s disrupted start.
At Sepang, the contrast was particularly striking: Verstappen celebrated a breakthrough for Red Bull’s new power unit project while continuing to challenge the direction of the championship’s engine rules.
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.
