Max Verstappen appears well placed to fight for his first pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season, according to NU. The Dutch broadcaster reported on Saturday that the Red Bull driver has put himself in a strong position ahead of qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix.
De Telegraaf similarly framed the session as an open question, asking whether Verstappen can take pole in Malaysia after what it described as two very strong sessions. AD.nl called the closing stages of qualifying "spannend" — exciting — and posed the same question about whether the Dutchman would secure his first pole of the year.
The picture from practice was not entirely one-sided. Motorsport.com reported that Andrea Kimi Antonelli was fastest in the third free practice session in Malaysia, recovering from a difficult Friday. That result suggests Verstappen will face competition in the fight for the top grid slot.
Separately, Noordhollands Dagblad reported that drivers are being pushed to their limits by extreme heat at both the Malaysian and Singapore rounds, quoting one competitor describing the conditions as "insane."
Qualifying is set to decide the grid, with the final segment expected to be closely contested. Whether Verstappen converts his practice pace into a first pole of the season is the main question to watch.
