Verstappen leaves everyone in the dust, Hamilton surprises, Antonelli and Leclerc take advantage of a penalty: the starting grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

Max Verstappen will start from pole position in the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, which—as a one-time exception this season—will be held at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia. The Dutch Red Bull driver set the fastest time in the decisive Q3 session with a lap of 1:35.130, edging out Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who finished a surprising second, 0.298 seconds behind. Verstappen had also led Q1 and Q2, first ahead of Hamilton himself and then ahead of Kimi Antonelli.

The Bologna native, the World Championship leader, limited the damage on a track that seems unfavorable for Mercedes: he will in fact start from third on the grid, alongside Charles Leclerc’s other Ferrari, due to the penalty imposed on Isack Hadjar, who will drop five positions from his third-fastest time and start eighth. Ahead of the Frenchman, Lando Norris (McLaren) will start in fifth, Oscar Piastri (McLaren) in sixth, and George Russell (Mercedes) in seventh. Rounding out the top ten are Pierre Gasly’s Alpine and Gabriel Bortoleto’s Audi.

Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Carlos Sainz (Williams), and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) did not advance past Q2 and will therefore start in eleventh through fourteenth place. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) and Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) will start at the back of the pack—the former due to a post-Baku penalty and a power unit change, and the latter due to a power unit replacement.

Eliminated at the end of Q1 and thus on the grid from 15th to 20th place are Nico Hülkenberg (Audi), Ollie Bearman (Haas), Esteban Ocon (Haas), Alex Albon (Williams), Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac), and Sergio Perez (Cadillac).

2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, the starting grid:

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
7. George Russell (Mercedes) – 8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 10. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
11. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 12. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
13. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
15. Nico Hülkenberg (Audi) – 16. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
17. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 18. Alex Albon (Williams)
19. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – 20. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
21. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 22. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)