Sepang (Malaysia) (AFP) – The Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull) will start from pole position on Sunday in the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is held exceptionally in Malaysia, after achieving the best time in qualifying on Saturday.
First modification: 10/03/2026 - 12:02 Last modification: 10/03/2026 - 15:03
This is the first pole of the season for Verstappen, who beat the British Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari).
Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) set the third fastest time but it will be the championship leader Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) who starts from third position, since Hadjar has a five-place penalty for having changed parts of his engine.
The Red Bulls, who went through a very difficult first half of the season, have taken a step forward since last week's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where the single-seater duo managed to finish on the podium.
Both drivers shone on Friday and Saturday in the free practice sessions at the Sepang track, before confirming their dominance in the classification.
"It's fantastic. For several Grand Prix we have been trying to achieve pole position, sometimes we were close to achieving it. Having achieved it after our start to the season is incredible," said 'Mad Max', smiling and enthusiastic.
"I will try to win tomorrow," warned the four-time world champion, who has not yet won a race in 2026.
On the part of the Ferraris, discreet in the last races, the 41-year-old British Lewis Hamilton was happy with his time, in front of "the biggest fans ever seen here", in Sepang.
This Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled for the start of the season, but was suspended due to the war in the Gulf and later moved to Malaysia.
The circuit, near Kuala Lumpur, hosted Formula 1 Grand Prix between 1999 and 2017. The track's distinctive humid heat presents a challenge for mechanics, tires and drivers.
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Hamilton is one of the nine drivers of the 22 on the current grid who know the 5.544 km route, very technical and long, with straight lines and some ultra-fast corners and others in which you have to slam on the brakes.
The threat of a storm could add another component of difficulty to Sunday's race.
The young leader of the championship, the 20-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli, will start from third position, ahead of the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).
The McLaren duo made up of the current British world champion Lando Norris and the Australian Oscar Piastri will start from the third row, ahead of the British George Russell (Mercedes), seventh, and the sanctioned Hadjar, eighth.
The Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and the Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) complete the Top 10.
Behind, the Spanish Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) will try to enter the points zone from 12th position, just ahead of his compatriot Carlos Sainz (Williams).
The Mexican Sergio Pérez (Cadillac) and the Argentine Franco Colapinto (Alpine) will have a complicated task from the back of the grid, in 20th and 21st position respectively.
Like that of Bahrain, the conflict in the Middle East also involved the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which has not been rescheduled.
The situation in the area also jeopardized the holding of the GPs in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, on November 29 and December 6 respectively, but F1 boss Stefano Domenicali "confirmed" on Saturday to Canal+ that they will be held.
© 2026 AFP
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