Verstappen takes Bahrain GP pole as F1 returns to Malaysia's Sepang
Red Bull's first pole of 2026; Hamilton second, Antonelli to start third
2 min read
File photo: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) at the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang. Photo: Morio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday with a lap of 1:35.130 at Sepang International Circuit, giving Red Bull its first pole of the 2026 Formula One season.
Qualifying order
Lewis Hamilton finished second, 0.298 seconds slower than Verstappen. Isack Hadjar was third-fastest, 0.428 seconds off pole, but a five-place grid penalty drops him down the order and promotes Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli to third on the grid for Sunday's race.
The provisional top 10 after qualifying was Verstappen, Hamilton, Hadjar, Antonelli, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, George Russell, Pierre Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto. Ferrari's Leclerc and McLaren's Norris and Piastri all made the top seven but could not match Red Bull's one-lap pace.
First pole since Abu Dhabi
It was Verstappen's first pole since the Abu Dhabi season finale in 2025, ending a long wait for a front-row start in 2026. Red Bull has introduced an aerodynamic upgrade that first appeared in Azerbaijan and has been credited with helping the team's qualifying form as the championship calendar continues.
Race moved to Malaysia
The Bahrain Grand Prix was postponed earlier because of the Middle East conflict and relocated to Sepang. Malaysia last hosted a Formula One race in 2017, when Verstappen also featured prominently at the same venue — making Saturday's pole a symbolic return for both the driver and the circuit.
Verstappen will start from the front for Sunday's race, with Hamilton alongside on the front row and Antonelli lining up third after Hadjar's penalty. The rearranged Bahrain event marks Formula One's first Malaysian Grand Prix in nearly a decade.
Coverage was drawn from BBC Sport, Sky Sports, Formula1.com and Al Jazeera.
