Max Verstappen Takes Pole Over Lewis Hamilton In Malaysia

Formula 1’s return to the Sepang Circuit for the Bahrain Grand Prix was sure to be a throwback. Indeed, it ended up being one to 2021, of all years.

Max Verstappen was able to convert practice speed all weekend into pole. Lewis Hamilton put on a heater and put his Ferrari on the front row for the first time since his last F1 victory at Barcelona earlier this season.

“I’m happy with today, and I’ll be sure to try and win tomorrow,” Verstappen said when asked about if this weekend will mark his first win of the season. “When you start first, that’s the target.”

Max enjoyed that one 💪#F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/O58hedK8Po

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 3, 2026

Isack Hadjar qualified third, but will take a grid drop due to an engine component change. Points leader Kimi Antonelli will start third, while George Russell will start seventh after struggling with speed most of the weekend.

“Much happier with where the car is,” Hamilton said. “But tomorrow is a completely different ballgame. Making these tires last around this track. They’re overheating from the get go. Every little wheel spin you have, every little snap you have, depending on the wind, makes a difference for how far you can go.

“I like to think that we have a good balance. These guys, Max, were quick on their long runs. So I’ll just try my best to hold onto it tomorrow.”

Q3

There were no wrecks or major incidents in any of the three rounds of qualifying.

Pos.	Driver No.	Driver	Team	Time from Leader
1.	3	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Ford	1:35.130m
2.	44	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+0.298s
3.	6	Isack Hadjar	Red Bull Racing Red Bull Ford	+0.428s
4.	12	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+0.501s
5.	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+0.536s
6.	1	Lando Norris	McLaren Mercedes	+0.627s
7.	81	Oscar Piastri	McLaren Mercedes	+0.632s
8.	63	George Russell	Mercedes	+0.741s
9.	10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine Mercedes	+2.080s
10.	5	Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	+2.543s

Q2

Both Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad sacrificed their hot lap in this round to try and boost their respective teammates into Q3 by giving them a slipstream down the long Malaysian backstretch. Both are facing grid penalties and were going to start at the rear of the field, regardless.

Pos.	Driver No.	Driver	Team	Time from Advancing
11.	30	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls Red Bull Ford	+0.209s
12.	14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin Aramco Honda	+0.406s
13.	55	Carlos Sainz	Atlassian Williams Mercedes	+0.713s
14.	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin Aramco Honda	+0.752s
15.	43	Franco Colapinto	Alpine Mercedes	N/A
16.	41	Arvid Lindblad	Racing Bulls Red Bull Ford	N/A

Q1

Both Aston Martins made it out of Q1, for the first time this season.

Pos.	Driver No.	Driver	Team	Time from Advancing
17.	27	Nico Hulkenberg	Audi	+0.087s
18.	87	Oliver Bearman	Haas Ferrari	+0.097s
19.	31	Esteban Ocon	Haas Ferrari	+0.350s
20.	23	Alexander Albon	Atlassian Williams Mercedes	+0.717s
21.	77	Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac Ferrari	+0.728s
22.	11	Sergio Perez	Cadillac Ferrari	+1.050s

2026 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia Qualifying Results

Now that qualifying is over, it’s now time for the race. Lights out for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia will be at 3 a.m. ET. Coverage will be live and, for this weekend, free, on Apple TV.