Classic rivalries reignited at Sepang as Max Verstappen secured his maiden pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Dominating every segment of qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, the Dutch driver posted a blistering 1m 35.130s lap to claim his first pole since the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
An enticing front-row showdown awaits as Lewis Hamilton put in a stellar performance to take second place for Ferrari, setting the stage for a vintage battle against his old rival when the lights go out. Behind them, grid penalties for Isack Hadjar promoted Kimi Antonelli to third on the starting grid, offering a slight boost to Mercedes following their weekend upgrade package.
Charles Leclerc rounded out the top five, while McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locked out closely matched times in sixth and seventh. Meanwhile, George Russell faces a steep recovery drive on race day after struggling to replicate last weekend's dominant pace during a tricky qualifying session.
Read Also
Max Verstappen amankan pole perdana 2026 di GP Bahrain Sepang, ungguli Lewis Hamilton dan Isack Hadjar dalam kualifikasi Formula 1 yang ketat.
Max Verstappen merebut pole dominan di Sepang, sementara Lewis Hamilton mengamankan start baris terdepan pertamanya sejak Barcelona dalam kualifikasi F1.
Max Verstappen rebut pole position F1 Bahrain 2026 di Sepang, beri Red Bull pole pertama mesin mandiri. Lewis Hamilton P2 dan Isack Hadjar mengejutkan.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!