Max takes first pole of the season at Sepang: 'It is incredible'

Published on 03 October 2026 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen has had to wait a long time for it this season, but today it finally happened: the Dutchman will start tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix from pole position. Verstappen was the fastest man in qualifying, securing his first pole since Abu Dhabi last year. Lewis Hamilton came close in the closing stages but had to settle for P2. Isack Hadjar completed the celebrations for Red Bull with an impressive third-fastest time, while Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc completed the top five.

“It is fantastic,” a delighted Max Verstappen said afterwards. “We have been trying many Grands Prix to get pole. Sometimes we were a bit closer than others, but to finally get it, from where we started the season, is incredible.” The Dutchman can see that the progress Red Bull has made throughout the season is now being rewarded: “Finally, I have a car with which it is possible. The whole season has obviously been difficult at times. You know that sometimes you drive really good laps, but that only gets you P5 or P6. We have made some good steps forward throughout the season, and maybe this circuit also suits our car a little better. Then everything comes together nicely.” According to Max, the work on the balance and gaining a better understanding of the new car has been particularly important. “I think we have simply improved the balance throughout the season by bringing upgrades, of course. And I also think we have the car in a slightly better operating window. There are obviously all these new regulations. At some point, I think you understand a little better where you want the car to be. At least we have managed that well so far this weekend.”

Max certainly was not handed pole on a plate in Q3. His first two sectors were less impressive on his final run, but he managed to make up time in the final sector. Max: “My last set of tyres was not at the right temperature when I left the pits. We need to analyse why that was. Because of that, I had to adjust my out-lap, and everything is very sensitive here. That is probably why the first two sectors were not quite as good.” Starting from pole, Verstappen will go in search of his first Grand Prix victory of the season tomorrow. With high tyre degradation and multiple pit stops, there is plenty that can happen, but Max knows where it all starts for him: “For us, it starts with the start, of course. That is going to be a problem, but after that it is still a very long race. I am happy with today and, of course, I am going to try to win tomorrow. If you start first, that is the goal.”

It is even warmer than during the third free practice session: 33 degrees, while the track temperature has risen to 57 degrees Celsius. Max sets his first flying lap on the soft tyres with a 1:36.477, while Hadjar comes within four tenths. Both Ferraris are trying the mediums and manage to split the Red Bulls. Hamilton is just a tenth off Max at this point. The last time we raced in Malaysia, in 2017, things were even faster. Max qualified third back then with a 1:30.541. In the final part of Q1, the seven fastest drivers call it a day, including Norris, Antonelli and Piastri. Eventually, Hülkenberg, Bearman, Ocon, Albon, Bottas and Pérez fail to make it through to Q2. Stroll, meanwhile, makes it through to Q2 for the first time this season.

Max immediately sets a strong 1:35.696 in Q2. The competition has not yet managed to completely close the gap to the Red Bull. Leclerc comes in just over two tenths behind in P2. Antonelli also fails to match Max’s time with a 1:36.075, and his time is subsequently deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 6. While the rest of the field returns to the pits, the Italian heads back out for another attempt, this time on a new set of softs. Antonelli drives a cautious first and second sector, but more than makes up for it in the final sector with a purple time. He sets a 1:35.959 to take P2. Apart from Hamilton, the entire top eight stays in the pits during the final part of Q2. Arvid Lindblad gives his team-mate Liam Lawson a helpful slipstream, but it is just not enough to reach Q3. Gabriel Bortoleto knocks the New Zealander out of the top ten. As a result, Lawson, along with Alonso, Sainz, Stroll, Colapinto and Lindblad, will not return for Q3. The RB22 is clearly feeling at home in Malaysia. Hadjar makes a strong start to Q3, setting the fastest time with a 1:35.558. Max then raises the bar even further: his 1:35.250 is three tenths faster than his team-mate. Antonelli chooses to run his flying lap out of sync in Q3. It does not produce the desired result. The Italian falls more than three tenths short of Max and slots in behind both Red Bulls. The Red Bulls do not make a convincing start to their very final attempts. Both Verstappen and Hadjar set a yellow sector time in the first sector, putting them above their previous lap times. Max, however, manages to turn things around. In the final sector, he produces a purple time, improving his lap to a 1:35.130.

Lewis Hamilton makes things interesting for a moment. The Briton is on a purple sector and appears to be capable of seriously challenging for pole, but ultimately falls short. Max therefore remains at the top. The other leading teams are also unable to knock the Dutchman off the top spot. Max consequently takes his very first pole position of the season. For the first time since Abu Dhabi last year, he is back on pole. Tomorrow, Verstappen and Hamilton will line up alongside each other on the front row, with Hadjar and Antonelli in P3 and P4. Leclerc completes the top five at Sepang.

Results qualifying Bahrain: