Second at Sepang
Kimi Antonelli finished second in the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, 2.307 seconds behind Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton completed the podium. Antonelli’s 18 points make this his 13th Grand Prix podium of the season.
Sources: Official F1 race classification and F1 driver statistics. Official F1 classification checked 12 October 2026.
A race shaped by changing conditions
Rain disrupted the start at Sepang. Antonelli launched from third on intermediate tyres and took the early lead, before Verstappen worked his way back ahead. The switch to slick tyres and Safety Car periods shaped the contest, with Antonelli ultimately securing second.
Source: Formula 1 race report.
The lead grows from 66 to 84 points
George Russell retired late in the race and scored no points. Antonelli now leads with 320 to Russell’s 236, increasing the gap by 18 points. Eight Grand Prix wins remain on his record after 16 rounds.
Sources: F1 championship standings and F1 season statistics.
Antonelli’s reaction
Antonelli considered second the best result Mercedes could achieve on the day. He also stressed that the team needs further improvement despite the larger championship lead.
Source: F1 post-race interview report.
Our take: consistency adds up
This was a points-building weekend rather than another victory. The result illustrates why podium finishes matter in a title campaign: Antonelli added to his score while his closest rival left without points. The current advantage is meaningful, but the championship is still in progress.
Practice and qualifying recap
Antonelli topped final practice with a 1:36.302 lap, then qualified fourth with 1:35.631. Hadjar’s grid penalty promoted him to third for the race.
Official F1: FP3, Qualifying and Starting grid.
Explore the updated season results, career profile or previous Azerbaijan race review.