Lewis Hamilton’s race unravels at the start of the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, Malaysia, after a slick-tyre gamble on a damp surface backfires, costing early positions.

A thunderstorm delays lights-out by one hour and 40 minutes, then the grid faces a suspended start procedure after several cars encounter trouble on the initial formation lap.

When racing finally begins on a slowly drying track, most select intermediates, prioritising warm-up and predictable grip that prove decisive in the opening laps.

Hamilton commits to soft slicks. He is joined by Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto, Oliver Bearman, and Valtteri Bottas. Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso opt for medium slicks.

The disadvantage is immediate. By lap three, every intermediate runner clears the slick starters, leaving Hamilton and company struggling to generate temperature and traction.

Leclerc pits first among the slick group for intermediates. His pace jumps immediately, and he cycles ahead of Hamilton despite the time surrendered in the stop.

By lap eight Hamilton sits 18th, a stark measure of the gamble’s cost as the surface still denies sufficient tyre energy and bite.

Up front, Max Verstappen loses out off the line to Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, then recovers to second after clearing Hamilton during his fightback.

The episode underlines how track evolution and tyre warm-up windows dominate mixed conditions, where the conservative call can become quickest once grip consolidates and crossover points stabilise.

That emphasis on compounds and timing mirrors pre-event focus on tyres, with crossover risks magnified by safety-car procedures, pit loss, and uncertainty over drying rates.

With more races to come, teams will bank these lessons from the Bahrain GP, while the event’s unpredictable build-up reinforces caution on early slicks in marginal conditions.

Visual Summary

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.