Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's qualifying at Bahrain GP in Malaysia that separated them by 0.298s

At the Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia on October 4, 2026, Max Verstappen claimed pole position with Lewis Hamilton qualifying on the front row alongside him, separated by just 0.298 seconds. Analyst Anthony Davidson examined the qualifying session in detail, highlighting Verstappen's 'special' pole as his first of the 2026 season. Mercedes faced performance struggles despite a recent upgrade package, with drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli noting difficult tyre conditions during the session.