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Verstappen Takes Bahrain Pole After Mercedes Upgrade Stalls

By Drooid · Oct 3, 2026, 2:05 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Verstappen Secures Pole

Max Verstappen secured pole for the Bahrain Grand Prix with a 1:35.130 lap, 0.298 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
Isack Hadjar qualified third but will start eighth after a five-place grid penalty.
Mercedes introduced a major upgrade package, yet it failed to improve qualifying pace.
Verstappen said the upgrades gave the RB22 better balance in hot conditions, aiding his pole.

Summary

Bortoleto Qualifies Eleventh

Drivers reported "insane" tyre degradation on Sepang's dusty surface, raising strategy concerns.
Gabriel Bortoleto qualified 11th in final practice, showing Audi adapts to Malaysia's high tyre loads.
No hard tyre compound was used in any practice session, fueling speculation of a mandatory two-stop race.
A red flag stopped FP3 for eight minutes after debris struck Oliver Bearman's Haas at Turn 10.

History

Historical Context

The June 19 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis saw Michelin-shod teams withdraw after tyre failures in Turn 13, leaving only six Bridgestone-equipped cars to race. The FIA’s refusal to add a chicane sparked a public backlash and prompted new FIA rules mandating multiple tyre compounds and real-time monitoring, a framework that underlies today’s Bahrain pole and Sepang practice concerns.

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Verstappen Secures Pole

Max Verstappen secured pole for the Bahrain Grand Prix with a 1:35.130 lap, 0.298 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
Isack Hadjar qualified third but will start eighth after a five-place grid penalty.
Mercedes introduced a major upgrade package, yet it failed to improve qualifying pace.
Verstappen said the upgrades gave the RB22 better balance in hot conditions, aiding his pole.

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