Victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia for Max Verstappen was surely as sweet as any he may have tasted, the Dutchman on top after what was an extraordinarily dramatic and, indeed, chaotic afternoon at the Sepang circuit. But in a race which had opened in an embarrassing farce for Formula One, it held in contrast only bitter disappointment for George Russell, whose retirement has left his title hopes shattered and his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli within touching distance of the championship.
It is nine years since Malaysia hosted a grand prix and, standing in this weekend for the cancelled meeting in Bahrain, the much-loved circuit proved to be the grand stage to showcase a dominant drive for Verstappen and Red Bull, his and the team’s first win of the season, beating Antonelli into second.
