Max Verstappen Bahrain GP 2026 Win: Rain‑Delayed Race, Free Apple TV Stream

Race day chaos and Verstappen’s victory

On 4 October 2026 the Bahrain Grand Prix, officially held at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit after heavy rain forced a 90‑minute delay, saw Max Verstappen take his first win of the season. BBC Sport described the opening laps as chaotic and unprecedented and noted that Verstappen drove a dominant performance to claim the checkered flag [1]. For a detailed live‑blog of the event, see F1 Live: Max Verstappen Wins Historic Bahrain GP in Malaysia.

How the delay shaped the running order

The rain‑induced pause left many cars struggling for grip during the formation laps behind the safety car. Once racing resumed, Verstappen quickly built a lead while Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli ran strongly in second place. A power‑unit failure for George Russell five laps from the end promoted Antonelli, giving him a significant boost in the championship standings [1].

Championship shake‑up

After Russell’s retirement, Antonelli moved ahead of Russell in the drivers’ table, opening a gap of 84 points with either six or seven races remaining. This shift positions Antonelli as the new challenger for second place behind Verstappen [1].

Lewis Hamilton’s recovery drive

Lewis Hamilton, who started on an incorrect wet‑weather tyre, fought his way back through the field. Three laps from the finish he passed Isack Hadjar for third place, completing what commentators called an extraordinary recovery drive [1].

Where Indian fans can watch for free

The entire weekend – practice, qualifying and the race – was streamed live at no cost on Apple TV in the United States. Mashable notes that the Bahrain GP in Malaysia can be watched live on Apple TV in the United States without a subscription [2]. Access from India may be subject to regional restrictions, so viewers should verify availability locally.

Search interest in India

According to Google Trends India, the term “max verstappen” generated roughly 1,000 searches in the past 24 hours, reflecting a 600 % increase and showing heightened curiosity among Indian users about the race [3].