Qualifying in Sepang delivered a sharp reminder of Max Verstappen’s Saturday menace, as the Red Bull driver finally secured his first pole of 2026. Lewis Hamilton will join him on the front row for Sunday’s race, while penalties shuffled the order and left championship leader Kimi Antonelli facing a tougher-than-expected challenge.

Check out our recap in pictures of qualifying day at the Bahrain GP in Malaysia, round 16 of the 2026 F1 World championship.

Michael Delaney

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