Max Verstappen took pole position for the reported Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying session in Sepang, Malaysia, with a lap of 1:35.130, according to reports published October 3, 2026. Lewis Hamilton was second, 0.298 seconds behind. Isack Hadjar was third-fastest but, after a reported five-place penalty, was set to start eighth.
Who qualified on pole for the Bahrain Grand Prix?
Verstappen set the fastest reported qualifying lap, 1:35.130, to put his Red Bull on pole. Reuters, in a report published by Al Jazeera, quoted him calling the result “pretty incredible” given where the team started the season. Read the Reuters report published by Al Jazeera.
Hamilton qualified second and was reported to join Verstappen on the front row, 0.298 seconds behind. He said the heat made conditions difficult for the tyres, cars and mechanics.
Qualifying order and Hadjar’s penalty
The reported qualifying order was:
- Max Verstappen
- Lewis Hamilton
- Isack Hadjar
- Kimi Antonelli
- Charles Leclerc
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- George Russell
- Pierre Gasly
- Gabriel Bortoleto
Hadjar was third-fastest, but reports said a five-place grid penalty for fitting engine components beyond the permitted quota would move him to eighth on the reported starting grid. The reports did not identify the components. Qualifying rank and grid position are therefore different: the order above records session pace, not the final order after penalties. AFP’s report also gives the result and penalty.
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Why was the Bahrain GP being held in Malaysia?
The reports place the session at Sepang, Malaysia, rather than Bahrain. AFP attributed the venue to Gulf disruption linked to the US-led war with Iran. That explanation comes from the news report; the available coverage does not establish an official announcement confirming the relocation rationale or provide details about who made the decision or when. The result and unusual venue should accordingly be understood as reported, not as independently confirmed by an official event classification or notice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the reports establish
Reuters/Al Jazeera and AFP both reported Verstappen’s pole lap and Hadjar’s penalty, while AFP reported Hamilton’s 0.298-second deficit and the explanation for staging the race in Malaysia. The cited coverage is dated October 3, 2026; it is not an official F1 or FIA classification. AFP also noted Verstappen’s Malaysian Grand Prix win in 2017 and the race’s subsequent departure from the calendar, but that history does not itself explain the reported venue for this event.
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