Verstappen Seizes 2026 Pole at Sepang as Hamilton Returns to Front Row
Max Verstappen secured his first pole position of the 2026 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, dominating all three qualifying sessions at the Sepang International Circuit. Lewis Hamilton finished second for Ferrari, marking his return to the front row, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli started third after a grid penalty for his teammate. The race, held in Malaysia due to Middle East conflict, saw Red Bull outperform rivals despite Mercedes struggling with unexpected car behavior and severe tire degradation on the hot, rough tarmac.
