Max Verstappen wins F1’s Driver of the Day vote after Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
Image accompanying the official F1 announcement.Max Verstappen has once again been named Formula 1’s Driver of the Day after fans voted him the top performer from the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The result was tight, with Verstappen receiving 25.9% of the vote compared with Lewis Hamilton’s 25.3%.
In the race, Verstappen delivered what Formula 1 described as a “masterful drive,” sealing Red Bull’s first victory of the 2026 season. The win also marked the first-ever Formula 1 victory for a Red Bull Ford power unit, according to the league’s Driver of the Day write-up.
Formula 1 noted that the Malaysian weather played a significant role in the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, contributing to a prolonged race that finished almost three and a half hours after the scheduled start time.
The final vote distribution also included Fernando Alonso at 11.2%, followed by Kimi Antonelli with 6.1% and Charles Leclerc with 5.1%, rounding out the list of drivers who received support in the fan voting.
Verstappen’s selection continues a theme from earlier seasons, with Formula 1 highlighting that he previously won on Formula 1’s last visit to Sepang almost a decade ago, and that there was “no stopping” him in 2026 despite the conditions. The Driver of the Day vote reflects fan preference for the standout performance during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend in Malaysia.
Reporting source: F1 official update