Verstappen on pole in Malaysia ahead of Hamilton

Max Verstappen secured his and Red Bull's first pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season with a dominant qualifying performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix, held in Malaysia, on October 3, 2026. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton qualified in second place behind the four-time F1 World Champion. The result marks a significant milestone for Verstappen and Red Bull after going without a pole for the opening portion of the 2026 season.