# Verstappen Takes Sepang Pole for 2026 F1

> Max Verstappen secures first pole of 2026 at Sepang as F1 returns to Malaysia.
- Title: Verstappen Takes Sepang Pole for 2026 F1 · Road & Track
- Summary: Max Verstappen secures first pole of 2026 at Sepang as F1 returns to Malaysia. Max Verstappen achieved pole position for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at…
- Keywords: max verstappen, sepang, 2026, bahrain grand prix, pole position, red bull, lewis hamilton, isack hadjar, kimi antonelli, george russell, lando norris, Verstappen
- Source: Road & Track — https://roadandtrack.com/news/a74002492/max-verstappen-secures-first-pole-position-2026-f1-return-to-sepang
- Author: Victoria Beaver
- Published: 2026-10-03T09:20:11+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: max verstappen, sepang, f1, 2026, bahrain grand prix, pole position, red bull, lewis hamilton, isack hadjar, kimi antonelli, george russell, lando norris
## Verstappen secures pole for 2026 Bahrain GP
Max Verstappen will start from pole for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, now held at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia, marking his first pole of the season.
## Hamilton trails Verstappen by 0.298 seconds
With this, F1 picks up where it left off at Sepang nine years ago, when Verstappen won his second-ever F1 Grand Prix in his sophomore season, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, the then three-time World Champion with Mercedes, and his Red Bull Teammate Daniel Ricciardo.
## Hadjar takes five-place grid penalty
Hadjar will not have the chance to easily back up the podium he earned last week in his season return from injury, as he took a five-place grid penalty for exceeding his engine allocation for the second time.
## Hamilton: tires overheating
Hamilton felt major improvement from the Ferrari camp from practice to qualifying but knows that the Grand Prix will be won by whoever figures out how to make the tires last through longer stints.
## Hadjar: car performance strong
Hadjar felt that he left some on the table in his second qualifying run since returning from a four-race absence but is happy with the RB21 that he came back to.
## Antonelli moves to third
This elevates Kimi Antonelli to third, and four spots ahead of his closest WDC competitor and Mercedes teammate George Russell.
## Lando Norris starts fourth
Charles Leclerc, who has only run at Sepang in the F3 category before this weekend, qualified fifth and will start fourth ahead of defending world champion Lando Norris in his first visit to the track.
## Key takeaway

Max Verstappen achieved pole position for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang Circuit, marking his first pole of the season.