Verstappen takes first 2026 pole ahead of Hamilton
Max Verstappen secured his first pole position of the 2026 F1 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. He outperformed Lewis Hamilton, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli is set to start third following a grid penalty for Isack Hadjar.
Why it matters
This race marks a significant shift in the 2026 F1 season dynamics as veteran drivers and new contenders compete under updated regulations.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Max Verstappen is a four-time F1 world champion
F1 Correspondent Published 47 minutes ago 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 2026, 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
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Max Verstappen tops FP1
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Leclerc tops FP2 with Mercedes seventh and eighth
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Verstappen pips Russell to top FP1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia 2026: Max Verstappen tops first practice
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