Verstappen takes first pole of 2026 as Hamilton secures front-row start

Max Verstappen secured his first pole position of 2026 at Sepang, beating Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton by 0.298 seconds after leading each of the three qualifying sessions. According to BBC Sport's report, the result also delivered Red Bull's first pole of the season, with Hamilton taking the other place on the front row.

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Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar set the third-fastest time but carries a five-place grid penalty. That will move championship leader Kimi Antonelli up to third on the grid after the Mercedes driver qualified fourth. Charles Leclerc was fifth quickest for Ferrari, followed by McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while Antonelli's closest championship challenger, George Russell, was eighth.

Verstappen described the pole as a significant reward after repeated attempts to reach the front during a difficult season. BBC Sport reported that Red Bull's aerodynamic improvements had helped the car take a step forward at Sepang. Hamilton, meanwhile, said the heat was testing the cars, tyres and garage crews. He credited a set-up change with helping Ferrari find a better balance as sliding tyres complicated preparations.

Antonelli's qualifying programme was disrupted by a shortage of fresh soft tyres for the final session. He began qualifying with four new sets rather than the usual five, then lost his opening lap in the second session for exceeding track limits. Using another set to progress left him with only one for the pole shootout. He finished 0.501 seconds behind Verstappen and said a second set might have allowed him to challenge for the front row, though he regarded pole as out of reach.

Russell ended up 0.240 seconds behind Antonelli and said Mercedes had not found the pace it needed despite bringing an upgrade. McLaren also struggled to match expectations, with Norris finishing 0.627 seconds off pole. The outcome left both McLaren drivers behind Leclerc in the qualifying order and neither Mercedes driver in the top three on outright times.

Further back, Fernando Alonso qualified 12th to give Aston Martin its best qualifying position of the year, according to the BBC. Pierre Gasly, Gabriel Bortoleto and Liam Lawson occupied the three places ahead of him. Carlos Sainz separated Alonso from Aston Martin team-mate Lance Stroll in 14th. Alonso said the circuit suited the team's package better and expressed hope of making use of that in the race.