Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen (C), who qualified in pole position, poses with second-position Ferrari's British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) and third-position Red Bull Racing's French driver Isack Hadjar after the qualifying session of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang on October 3, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
Sepang: Max Verstappen qualified on pole position for the first time this year at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on a rare off day for Mercedes and standings leader Kimi Antonelli.

Verstappen went fastest by 0.298 of a second from Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, with Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar .130 further back in third.

Antonelli was fourth, with his Mercedes teammate and closest title challenger George Russell only eighth.

Once again, the weather in Malaysia stayed dry for Saturday's sessions despite predictions of heavy rain earlier in the week.

F1 is racing at Malaysia's Sepang circuit for the first time since 2017. It's a replacement event after the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were called off earlier this year due to the Iran war. The race keeps Bahrain Grand Prix branding and Bahraini staff are organizing it on site.

Tags: