2026 F1 Bahrain GP Qualifying: Verstappen Takes First Pole of the Season
Max Verstappen will start the 2026 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia from pole position after dominating Qualifying at the Sepang International Circuit. The Red Bull driver topped all three stages of Saturday’s session before delivering a 1m 35.130s lap in Q3.
It represents Verstappen’s first pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season after Red Bull showed promising pace throughout the weekend. Lewis Hamilton produced an impressive final attempt for Ferrari to secure P2, finishing 0.298 seconds behind Verstappen.
Isack Hadjar initially claimed third for Red Bull, but a five-place grid penalty means he is set to drop to P8. That promotes Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who qualified fourth, while Charles Leclerc completed the top five on the timesheets.
The leading Qualifying results were:
- P1 – Max Verstappen – 1:35.130
- P2 – Lewis Hamilton – 1:35.428
- P3 – Isack Hadjar – 1:35.558
- P4 – Kimi Antonelli – 1:35.631
- P5 – Charles Leclerc – 1:35.666
McLaren endured a relatively subdued session, with Lando Norris qualifying sixth ahead of Oscar Piastri in seventh. George Russell could only manage eighth for Mercedes, while Pierre Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto completed the Q3 runners.
Further penalties will alter the starting order. Arvid Lindblad is heading towards the back following a power-unit change, while Franco Colapinto carries penalties relating to his Baku collision and a new engine.
The unusual Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia has therefore delivered an equally intriguing grid. Sepang had not hosted Formula 1 Qualifying since 2017, but its return has immediately produced a major moment in Verstappen’s season.
After months of chasing pole, Verstappen finally has P1. The question now is whether Red Bull can convert that qualifying speed into victory.
