Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton to pole position to claim first Red Bull pole of 2026 Formula 1 season
Max Verstappen claimed Red Bull's first pole position of the season as he beat Lewis Hamilton in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Verstappen and Hamilton will share the front row in Sunday's race at 8am (build-up from 6.30am), live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event, for the first time since Hungary 2023 after the Red Bull driver delivered a dominant qualifying performance.
The Dutchman topped each segment of qualifying and set two laps good enough for pole, ending up 0.298s faster than Hamilton.
Isack Hadjar equalled his best career qualifying result with third but will start eighth due to a five-grid place penalty for a new internal combustion engine.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start third after a costly mistake in Q2 forced him to use an extra set of tyres prior to Q3, leaving him with just one run in the final part of qualifying.
Antonelli is 66 points ahead of his Mercedes team-mate George Russell in the Drivers' Championship and, crucially, Russell will start seventh as he lacked pace throughout Saturday.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will be fourth, ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri who were never in contention for pole.
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia LIVE: Final Practice and Qualifying updates, results, stream, highlights from Formula 1 race weekend in Sepang
Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Kimi Antonelli fastest from Max Verstappen ahead of qualifying at Sepang International Circuit
Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Charles Leclerc tops second practice but Red Bull and Max Verstappen impress on Friday
Bahrain GP in Malaysia: George Russell warns of Max Verstappen, McLaren threat to Mercedes despite upgrades for Sepang Qualifying
Bahrain GP in Malaysia 2026: Dates, schedule, weather, UK start time and how to watch or stream F1 race at Sepang live on Sky Sports
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia LIVE: Friday Practice updates, results, stream, highlights from Formula 1 race weekend in Sepang
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull2) Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari3) Isack Hadjar, Red Bull*4) Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes5) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari6) Lando Norris, McLaren7) Oscar Piastri, McLaren8) George Russell, Mercedes9) Pierre Gasly, Alpine10) Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi*5-place grid penalty to be applied
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Sunday October 46.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Bahrain GP build-up*8am: THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX*10am: Chequered Flag: Bahrain GP reaction*
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Malaysia for the first time since 2017 as it hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit - watch Sunday's race at 8am (build-up from 6.30am), live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
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