Mercedes teases Antonelli over rosewater podium fumble as Verstappen wins in Bahrain

Max Verstappen won the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang under wet-weather conditions, with Kimi Antonelli taking second and Lewis Hamilton completing the podium in third — but it was a moment of post-race comedy that dominated the conversation online.

As the three drivers gathered on the podium, Antonelli found himself baffled by the circuit’s customary alcohol-free rosewater, which replaces champagne in keeping with Bahrain Grand Prix tradition. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver shook the bottle vigorously in an attempt to build pressure, only to find it stubbornly refused to spray in the way a champagne bottle would.

Mercedes were quick to capitalise on the moment, posting a video of the mishap on X with the caption: “You’d think he’d have gotten the hang of this by now!”

Fans flooded the replies with a mixture of sympathy and amusement. “The realest part is watching him shake it like that’ll fix the pressure,” one wrote, while another offered context: “Because they use rose water instead of the real champagne. This is under Bahrain GP rules. Poor Kimi.” A third added: “The team should’ve told Kimi it was rose water and not champagne, poor kid. He’s never experienced anything like that before.”

Despite the light-hearted distraction, the result was a significant one for Antonelli. His second-place finish extended his lead in the drivers’ championship to 84 points over Mercedes team-mate George Russell, who sits second in the standings.

Verstappen’s victory was his first of the 2026 season and a timely response from Red Bull, who have faced a difficult start to the campaign. Hamilton’s third place, meanwhile, marked a podium return for the seven-time champion in his debut season with Ferrari.

“Today was the maximum we could have done,” Antonelli said after the race. “Massive congrats to Max and Red Bull for the incredible weekend. On our side, a lot of work to do. We have been struggling more than usual, but I’m still happy to come away with P2.”