Red Bull driver Max Verstappen set a fastest lap of 1m35.130s during qualifying at the Sepang International Circuit, claiming the 49th pole position of his career for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, autosport.com reported. Verstappen topped all three sessions and finished 0.298s faster than Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, who secured second place on the front row for the weekend marking Malaysia’s return to the F1 calendar after a hiatus since 2017.
Verstappen Secures Pole After Red Bull Upgrades
Verstappen’s pole position marks his first of the 2026 Formula 1 season, coming after a difficult start to the year for Red Bull. Over the summer break, Verstappen signed a two-year contract extension with the team, which introduced an upgrade package centered on a new floor in Baku and refined it for the tropical heat and abrasive surface at Sepang. Technical director Pierre Wache said that the team was not optimistic starting the weekend, but the new package performed better than the previous package through different type of corners.
Hamilton acknowledged Verstappen’s pace, saying that he fears the Red Bull driver will be tough to beat in Sunday’s race. Verstappen secured the top spot over Hamilton’s 1m35.428s.
Grid Penalties and Qualifying Struggles for Rival Teams
Isack Hadjar qualified third for Red Bull but will serve a five-place grid penalty for an engine change, dropping him to eighth on the starting grid. Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell faced challenges during qualifying while evaluating the team’s first major upgrade package since June. Antonelli entered Q3 compromised after his first Q2 push lap was deleted for track limits at Turn 6, forcing him to use an extra set of new soft tires and leaving him to complete just one lap in the final session to take fourth place.
Russell managed only eighth in the headline times, noting to Sky Sports F1 that tire overheating and degradation severely affected their car balance. Meanwhile, McLaren struggled for speed, with Lando Norris taking sixth and Oscar Piastri seventh, over six tenths off the pace.
Grid Penalties Shape the Back of the Grid
Several drivers face significant drops for Sunday’s race. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto qualified 15th but will start at the back due to a 15-place grid penalty, combining a five-place drop for a Baku collision with a 10-place penalty for a power unit change. Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad also faces a drop after taking 16th. Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg missed out on Q2 after starting the opening session on medium tires, qualifying 17th ahead of Haas drivers Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Bahrain Grand Prix being held in Malaysia?
F1 returned to the Sepang International Circuit because the opening rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled earlier in the year due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Where is Lewis Hamilton starting the Bahrain Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton will start on the front row in second place for Ferrari, alongside pole-sitter Max Verstappen.
What grid penalty does Isack Hadjar have?
Isack Hadjar drops five places on the starting grid due to an engine component change, moving him from third to eighth.
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