Bahrain GP in Malaysia 2026: Verstappen on pole ahead of Hamilton
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia, outperforming Lewis Hamilton. The race marks a return to the Sepang circuit, with significant grid changes affecting other drivers like Isack Hadjar.
Why it matters
The 2026 F1 season continues to evolve with new circuit locations and shifting team dynamics, impacting the championship standings.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Max Verstappen is a four-time F1 world champion
F1 Correspondent Published 3 October 2026, 10:13 BST Max Verstappen took his and Red Bull's first pole position of 2026 with an imperious performance in qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen, whose last pole and victory was at the season finale in Abu Dhabi in 2025, was 0.298 seconds quicker than Hamilton after topping all three sessions of qualifying.
Red Bull's Isack Hadjar was third fastest but has a five-place grid penalty, which will promote runaway championship leader Kimi Antonelli to third place.
The Italian's closest rival, team-mate George Russell, could manage only eighth fastest.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fifth fastest, ahead of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Also covering this story
11 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Leclerc tops FP2 with Mercedes seventh and eighth
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Verstappen pips Russell to top FP1
Verstappen takes first 2026 pole ahead of Hamilton
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Bahrain GP in Malaysia: F1 fans complain of gridlocked traffic, over three-hour waits for shuttles
Verstappen ends pole wait at Bahrain GP in Malaysia but Russell risks losing more ground
Three drivers facing grid penalties for F1's Malaysia return
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