Full Breakdown
Verstappen Takes First 2026 Pole as Bahrain GP Moves to Sepang
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 3 Red Bull driver Max Verstappen secured his first pole of the 2026 season for the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, with a lap of 1:35.130, 0.298 s ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar was third fastest but will start eighth after a five-place grid penalty. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified fourth, while his Mercedes teammate George Russell was eighth.
Background & Context
The Bahrain round was moved to Sepang after the original Bahrain and Saudi Arabian events were cancelled due to the Middle-East war. Sepang last hosted F1 in 2017, a race won by Verstappen. The abrasive surface and high temperatures make tyre management critical.
Timeline
- October 3 – Qualifying at Sepang; Verstappen takes pole.
- October 4 (scheduled) – Bahrain Grand Prix start at 08:00 UTC (local 15:00).
Data & Statistics
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:35.130 | – | – |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:35.428 | +0.298 s | – |
| 3 | Isack Hadjar* | Red Bull | 1:35.558 | +0.428 s | 5-place drop |
| 4 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:35.631 | +0.501 s | – |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:35.666 | +0.536 s | – |
| 6 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:35.757 | +0.627 s | – |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:35.762 | +0.632 s | – |
| 8 | George Russell* | Mercedes | 1:35.871 | +0.741 s | – |
*Hadjar’s penalty moves him behind Russell on the grid.
Antonelli’s Q2 lap was deleted for exceeding track limits, forcing an extra set of soft tyres.
Why It Matters
- First non-Mercedes pole of the season, ending the early-year streak.
- Verstappen’s pole improves Red Bull’s chance of ending a winless season; a victory would be their first since the 2025 Abu Dhabi finale.
- Mercedes’ new upgrade failed to deliver qualifying pace, widening the gap to Red Bull and Ferrari.
Official Statements & Responses
Hamilton called his lap “the best of the year” and expressed confidence in tyre management. Hadjar said the penalty was “a bit unfortunate.” Antonelli admitted the Q2 mistake cost him a higher grid spot. Mercedes technical director Pierre Wache said the team entered the weekend “not very optimistic,” focusing on evaluating the new package.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Mercedes upgrade: Reuters and Sky Sports reported it “did not deliver,” while BBC quoted Wache as “surprisingly happy” with early performance.
- Tyre strategy: Verstappen used medium tyres in FP2 to prepare for possible rain, whereas most rivals ran softs for qualifying simulations; the impact on his pole-winning pace remains unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's a very demanding circuit on the tyres, the tarmac is all broke up, it's extremely rough, it's so hot out there and the tyres are going through hell,” — George Russell
- “It's a bit unfortunate we take the penalty on a track that fast," Hadjar said.” — Isack Hadjar
- “It’s a shame for the mistake, but with a clean qualifying without the track limit, maybe P2, P3 on the road would have been possible,” — Kimi Antonelli
What’s Next
The race takes place on October 4. Teams must finalise tyre-management plans for the 56-lap sprint, with the abrasive track expected to force at least a two-stop strategy for most competitors.