Verstappen takes pole position in Malaysia — Interia Sport

Max Verstappen took pole position in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is being held on an emergency basis at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The Red Bull driver beat Lewis Hamilton by 0.298 seconds, so they will start from the front row in Sunday’s race. According to Interia Sport, this is Verstappen’s first pole position since the final qualifying session of the previous season.

Hamilton splits the Red Bull drivers

Red Bull were considered the favourites before the final qualifying segment. The team could have taken the top two positions, but Hamilton in a Ferrari split Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. The British driver was less than three-tenths of a second behind the Dutchman.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli posted the fourth-best time. Charles Leclerc was fifth, while McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri took sixth and seventh respectively. Norris was 0.005 seconds ahead of his teammate. George Russell finished qualifying eighth, while Pierre Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top 10.

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Changes to the starting grid

Isack Hadjar has received a five-place grid penalty. As a result, Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc are set to start the race from third and fourth positions, Norris and Piastri from the third row, and Russell from seventh.

Nico Hülkenberg, Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon, as well as Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez were eliminated in the first qualifying segment. Both Aston Martin drivers reached the second segment, but in Q2 Fernando Alonso set the 12th-fastest time and Lance Stroll the 14th.