Max Verstappen is back on pole.
The Red Bull driver topped all three qualifying sessions at Sepang to claim his first pole position of the 2026 season, beating Lewis Hamilton by 0.298 seconds with a 1:35.130. It is also Red Bull’s first pole of the year.
Hamilton will start alongside Verstappen on the front row, while Isack Hadjar originally qualified third. However, a five-place grid penalty for an engine change drops Hadjar to eighth, promoting Kimi Antonelli to third and George Russell to seventh.
It is a major qualifying result for Verstappen after Mercedes had looked strong earlier in the weekend. Antonelli topped FP3, but Verstappen delivered when it mattered, setting up a fascinating battle with Hamilton for Sunday’s race.
Verstappen last won at Sepang in 2017. Can he complete the comeback with another victory in Malaysia?
