What a front row we have as the Bahrain Grand Prix brings Formula 1 back to Kuala Lumpur’s spectacular Sepang International Circuit, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on pole for the first time this year and the Ferrari of arch-rival Lewis Hamilton alongside.
In Qualifying it was a Red Bull one-three, but Isack Hadjar drops to P8 on the grid thanks to a power unit penalty. That means row two comprises the Mercedes of championship leader Kimi Antonelli and the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
It’s an all-McLaren third row with reigning champion Lando Norris heading team mate Oscar Piastri, before Hadjar and our last race winner, Mercedes’ George Russell, fill out row four. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto complete the top 10.
At the back of the pack are Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad. Colapinto has a five-place penalty for his Turn 1 collision last time out in Baku, coupled with a 10-place drop for taking on new power unit elements. Lindblad also has new PU components, resulting in a combined 30-place demotion.
The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia starts at 1500 local time. Be sure to join our live coverage from 1400 here.
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