Verstappen beats Hamilton to pole in Malaysia

Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton to pole position to claim first Red Bull pole of 2026 Formula 1 season Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will start on the front row together for the first time in over three years at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia; watch the race at 8am with build-up from 6.30am, live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event Saturday 3 October 2026 10:17, UK Max Verstappen claimed Red Bull's first pole position of the season as he beat Lewis Hamilton in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Verstappen and Hamilton will share the front row in Sunday's race at 8am (build-up from 6.30am), live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event, for the first time since Hungary 2023 after the Red Bull driver delivered a dominant qualifying performance. The Dutchman topped each segment of qualifying and set two laps good enough for pole, ending up 0.298s faster than Hamilton. - Bahrain GP in Malaysia: UK schedule and how to watch on Sky Sports - F1 2026 Calendar | F1 2026 Standings | F1 Gossip Column - Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱 - Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream F1 with no contract 📺 Isack Hadjar equalled his best career qualifying result with third but will start eighth due to a five-grid place penalty for a new internal combustion engine. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start third after a costly mistake in Q2 forced him to use an extra set of tyres prior to Q3, leaving him with just one run in the final part of qualifying. Antonelli is 66 points ahead of his Mercedes team-mate George Russell in the Drivers' Championship and, crucially, Russell will start seventh as he lacked pace throughout Saturday. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will be fourth, ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri who were never in contention for pole. More to follow... Sky Sports F1's live schedule Bahrain GP in Malaysia Sunday October 4 6.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Bahrain GP build-up* 8am: THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX* 10am: Chequered Flag: Bahrain GP reaction* *also on Sky Sports Main Event Formula 1 is in Malaysia for the first time since 2017 as it hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit - watch Sunday's race at 8am (build-up from 6.30am), live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime