Verstappen claims pole at Bahrain GP in Malaysia, Hamilton joins front row
Max Verstappen secured his first pole of the 2026 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, with Lewis Hamilton qualifying second. Several drivers faced penalties and grid drops ahead of the race.
Max Verstappen recorded the fastest time in all three qualifying sessions at the Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia, earning his first pole of the 2026 Formula One season with a lap of 1:35.130. Lewis Hamilton qualified second for Ferrari, posting a 1:35.428 lap, placing the former champion on the front row alongside Verstappen.
Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar initially qualified third but will start from eighth after receiving a five-place grid penalty for an engine change. Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli took fourth place, while Charles Leclerc qualified fifth for Ferrari. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri completed the top six.
George Russell, also of Mercedes, qualified eighth but will start seventh due to Hadjar’s penalty. Pierre Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the top ten. Several drivers, including Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad, will serve additional grid penalties for power-unit changes or component violations.
The qualifying session saw a mix of strong performances and setbacks, with Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc and McLaren drivers securing solid positions despite a challenging weekend for the team. The grid lineup reflects penalties that will affect the starting order for the race on Sunday.