Verstappen takes pole for Bahrain GP in Malaysia, Hamilton starts second

• Courtesy of F1

Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, leading a Red Bull one-three finish in qualifying ahead of the race later today, Sunday, October 4.

The Red Bull driver clocked a fastest lap of 1:35.130 in Q3, beating Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who finished second with a time of 1:35.428.

Verstappen’s teammate Isack Hadjar secured third place with a 1:35.558 lap, giving Red Bull two cars in the top three on the starting grid.

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli qualified fourth with a time of 1:35.631, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fifth with 1:35.666.

McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will start sixth and seventh, respectively, while Mercedes driver George Russell secured eighth.

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top 10.

Verstappen will lead the field from pole position as he looks to convert his qualifying performance into victory, with Hamilton and Hadjar starting immediately behind him.