Verstappen takes Sepang pole for 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
Max Verstappen secured pole position at Sepang for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, beating Lewis Hamilton by 0.298s. Isack Hadjar set the third-fastest time but will drop five places on the grid because of an Internal Combustion Engine change.
Max Verstappen claimed his first pole position of the 2026 Formula One season in Qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit. The Red Bull driver set a best lap of 1:35.130, which was enough to put him 0.298s clear of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.
Isack Hadjar made it a Red Bull one-three by recording the third-fastest time in the session. However, the French driver has been given a five-place grid penalty for the race due to an Internal Combustion Engine change, which drops him to eighth on the grid.
The post-qualifying top three were Verstappen, Hamilton and Hadjar. After the session, Verstappen said it was "fantastic" to finally take pole after several rounds of trying and described the result as "pretty incredible" given how Red Bull began the season.
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