Photo via BBC Sport

Verstappen on pole in Malaysia ahead of Hamilton

Max Verstappen secured his initial pole position of the 2026 season for Red Bull following a dominant qualifying display at the Sepang venue in Malaysia. He outpaced Ferrari competitor Lewis Hamilton by 0.298 seconds, with Isack Hadjar clocking the third-fastest time before facing a grid drop that elevates Kimi Antonelli.

Further down the order, George Russell settled for eighth, Charles Leclerc took fifth, and Lando Norris edged out Oscar Piastri. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso delivered Aston Martin their top starting spot of the season in twelfth, finishing ahead of Pierre Gasly, Gabriel Bortoleto, Liam Lawson, Carlos Sainz, and fourteenth-placed Lance Stroll.

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