Verstappen wins again at Sepang as Hamilton recovers to take third

SEPANG: Max Verstappen claimed his second Formula One victory at Sepang on Sunday, winning the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.

The Red Bull driver repeated his success at the circuit in 2017. Antonelli finished second for Mercedes, while Hamilton recovered from a slide down the field to secure third for Ferrari.

Verstappen completed the 55-lap race in 1 hour 47 minutes 14.808 seconds, finishing 2.307 seconds ahead of Antonelli. Hamilton took third, 4.919 seconds behind the winner.

For Hamilton, the podium marked a recovery from a difficult race. He had lined up second but fell as low as 18th before working his way back toward the front.

Starting on soft slick tyres left Hamilton struggling for grip on the still-wet circuit. By the end of the eighth lap, he had fallen to 18th.

He worked his way back to fifth by lap 24. In the closing contest after a safety car period, Hamilton passed Isack Hadjar to claim third.

Russell encountered car trouble late in the race, adding another twist to an afternoon that ended with his Mercedes teammate Antonelli in second place.

Russell was classified 20th, six laps behind the winner, with no points.

Russell stopped on lap 50 while running third. AP reported that Mercedes told Antonelli over team radio that Russell appeared to have suffered a power-unit problem. The precise technical cause remained unconfirmed.

Heavy rain had disrupted preparations for the start, forcing delays while officials assessed track conditions.

Verstappen had secured pole position with a qualifying lap of 1 minute 35.130 seconds, beating Hamilton by 0.298 seconds. Antonelli moved up to third on the grid after a five-place penalty for Isack Hadjar.

The victory linked two Formula One visits to Sepang separated by nine years. Verstappen also won the circuit's previous race, on Oct 1, 2017, driving for Red Bull.

Formula One's official results show that he completed that race's 56 laps in 1 hour 30 minutes 1.290 seconds. Hamilton, then driving for Mercedes, finished 12.770 seconds behind him, with Daniel Ricciardo third.

Sepang hosted its first Formula One race in 1999 and remained on the calendar every year through 2017. Its 5.543km circuit became a central part of Malaysia's motor racing history.

This year's event carries the Bahrain Grand Prix name, with Malaysia providing an alternative venue after conflict in the Middle East disrupted the Bahrain race. Hosting this event does not, by itself, establish a permanent place for Sepang on future calendars.

The result leaves Antonelli on 320 points to Russell's 236, putting the Mercedes teammates 84 points apart.

Hamilton is third with 214 points, 22 behind Russell, followed by his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc on 191.

Verstappen is sixth with 188 points, level with fifth-placed Lando Norris.

In the constructors' standings, Mercedes lead with 556 points, 151 ahead of Ferrari on 405. McLaren is third on 316, followed by Red Bull on 298.