Bahrain GP in Malaysia 2026: Verstappen on pole ahead of Hamilton
Max Verstappen secured his first pole position of the 2026 season, putting Red Bull at the front of the grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton qualified second.
Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar set the third-fastest time but will drop five places because of a grid penalty. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli is therefore set to start third.
Charles Leclerc qualified fifth, ahead of McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Fernando Alonso took 12th for Aston Martin, while Lance Stroll was 14th. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto reached the top-10 qualifying shootout; Nico Hulkenberg exited in the opening session.
Red Bull’s aerodynamic changes, introduced at the previous race in Azerbaijan, appear to have helped at Sepang. The Malaysian event returned after a postponement linked to the war in the Middle East, and the venue drew a large crowd.
The hot conditions made qualifying demanding for drivers, teams and tyres, Hamilton said. Verstappen described his pole as a major result after the team’s earlier efforts to reach the front of the grid.
Key points
- Verstappen took pole, with Hamilton qualifying second.
- Hadjar’s five-place penalty is expected to move Antonelli up to third.
- Red Bull’s recent aerodynamic upgrade appears to have boosted performance at Sepang.