Formula One 2026: Max Verstappen takes pole for Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia – as it happened

Max Verstappen finished on pole for the first time this season as Kimi Antonelli survived a scare to reach the second row in Sepang

Q1: Verstappen lays down an early marker by going half a second faster than Antonelli on 1:36.477. Hadjar goes faster than the two Mercedes too.

Q1: Mercedes and Red Bull send their drivers out before a long, old queue resembling a McDonald’s drive-thru forms in the pit lane.