Max Verstappen claimed pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix, held in Malaysia, marking Red Bull's first pole of the 2026 Formula 1 season, according to The Guardian. The Dutch driver ended his wait for a top starting spot by beating Lewis Hamilton to the fastest time in qualifying, Sky Sports reports.
The result came after what the BBC described as an "incredible" Red Bull upgrade that the outlet said enlivened the Formula 1 weekend in Malaysia. RTE.ie reported that Kimi Antonelli outqualified George Russell, a result that leaves Russell at risk of losing further ground in the championship picture, as noted by The Guardian.
The Bahrain Grand Prix is being staged in Malaysia for this round of the 2026 season. Verstappen's pole is his first of the year, and it follows a period in which Red Bull had not yet taken a top qualifying position. Hamilton will line up alongside him on the front row.
For Russell, the session added to his difficulties, with his Mercedes teammate Antonelli qualifying ahead of him. The Guardian framed the outcome as a possible further setback for Russell's season.
Formula 1's official website published a round-up of what the teams said after qualifying in Malaysia.
Attention now turns to the race itself, where Verstappen will look to convert pole into a win and Russell will try to limit the damage from his starting position.
