Verstappen on pole for first time in 2026, with Hamilton 2nd and Hadjar 3rd
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia held at Sepang circuit near Kulala Lumpur
Race rescheduled from April because of Middle East unrest
Use the 'watch & listen' tab for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary
With two cars making it through to Q2 at Sepang, will Aston Martin feel they have a chance of a pole shootout spot today? The field are making their way out of the pit lane on the soft C4 compound.
Max Verstappen is on track but he has been shown a black and white for driving unnecessarily slowly.
"I think we were too early guys but yeah, the car was good so... a shame."
We go again.
Q2 is green.
We spoke about Fernando Alonso getting himself into Q2 today, but Lance Stroll has also made it into the second part of qualifying.
Image source, Getty Images" Sorry guys."
17. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
18. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
19. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
20. Alex Albon (Williams)
21. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
22. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
Image source, Getty ImagesCarlos Sainz in the Williams goes 16th, putting Nico Hulkenberg in danger. But now Oliver Bearman climbs to safety and pushes the German back down into trouble. And he's joined by Audi team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto.
But not for long, as the Brazilian puts in a great lap to eighth on the board, dropping Bearman back into the elimination zone.
Sam Bird
Former Formula E driver on 5 Sports Extra
I think you are going to see now, everybody from Gasly [in eighth] down, running again.
I can't see the top seven running again at this stage in qualifying, because of the tyre allocation, you are going to want to keep the tyres for the later qualifying sessions.
Fernando Alonso is in 12th spot again on the timesheets, but the Aston Martin driver is just on the cliff edge along with Franco Colapinto, Gabriel Bortoleto, Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg.
Pierre Gasly has called Alpine to say he can give buddy Colapinto, who has a 15-place grid penalty, a slipstream here.
The gap between Max Verstappen on the soft tyre and Lewis Hamilton on the medium compound is 0.118 seconds. The upgraded Mercedes of title leader Kimi Antonelli and team-mate George Russell are off the pace at the moment, so we'll see what these next runs bring us.
"I don't know why but I hear on the front of the car, like on the front right hand side, a tiny rattling noise."
Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent
Kimi Antonelli has only got four sets of soft tyres left, new ones, for the entire weekend. That includes the qualifying session.
Normally, they have five sets of soft tyres for qualifying, two for the second and third sessions and one for the first one.
So, I don't know what has happened there, just an interesting point of order. Something is unusual about Antonelli's tyre selection there.
17. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
18. Alex Albon (Williams)
19. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
20. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
21. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
22. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
The C3 medium compound medium has elevated Lewis Hamilton to second behind Max Verstappen with team-mate Charles Leclerc in third.
Kimi Antonelli has slipped to sixth on the timesheets, with George Russell just inside the top 10 in ninth spot.
Oscar Piastri is the highest McLaren so far in fourth, three places higher than world champion McLaren team-mate Lando Norris.
Sam Bird
Former Formula E driver on 5 Sports Extra
A lot of people tripping over each other, Lewis Hamilton has done it a couple of times into Turn 9, he has had some problems with his right hand mirror apparently, all weekend.
We've seen a couple of people holding others up into Turn 11, I think that was Lindblad on Lewis. Traffic can definitely cause some issues.
George Russell is on the softs, sorry, It's Lewis Hamilton who is a yellow medium runner with his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc. These glasses need cleaning.
Max Verstappen is purple in the first two sectors, just as Kimi Antonelli goes quickest. But the Dutchman completes the clean sweep and jumps above the Mercedes driver by more than half a second.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Haas drivers are gearing up for a flying lap in this first qualifying session on the soft compound. Esteban Ocon won't be driving for the American team next season, but the Frenchman said he is still hungary to compete in Formula 1 if there's a chance.
Ocon puts the first time on the board with a 1:38.879, which is just over a tenth quicker than his team-mate Oliver Bearman.
While the soft is the compound of choice for most teams, George Russell, Charles Leclerc and Audi's Nico Hulkenberg have opted for the medium.
Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say
I just hope Alonso can carry his momentum from FP3 through to qualifying...
Joey, Kent
Sam Bird
Former Formula E driver on 5 Sports Extra
I think Fernando has got a very good chance of getting through into Q2, I would not say the same for his team-mate.
The Cadillacs and Aston Martin have been regulars in the Q1 knockout club this season but Fernando Alonso but in a good performance in FP3 with 12th on the timesheets. The two-time world champion has three wins at Sepang, and claimed his maiden pole in 2003.
| Rank | Driver | Number | Fastest Lap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kimi Antonelli  Mercedes | 12 | 1:36.302 | 12 |
2 | Max Verstappen  Red Bull | 3 | 1:36.580 | 12 |
3 | Isack Hadjar  Red Bull | 6 | 1:36.860 | 15 |
4 | George Russell  Mercedes | 63 | 1:36.912 | 11 |
5 | Charles Leclerc  Ferrari | 16 | 1:37.016 | 19 |
6 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 1:37.041 | 15 |
7 | Lando Norris McLaren | 1 | 1:37.161 | 15 |
8 | Oscar Piastri  McLaren | 81 | 1:37.366 | 16 |
9 | Franco Colapinto  Alpine | 43 | 1:37.920 | 20 |
10 | Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls | 41 | 1:38.084 | 24 |
11 | Gabriel Bortoleto  Audi | 5 | 1:38.204 | 15 |
12 | Fernando Alonso  Aston Martin | 14 | 1:38.223 | 13 |
13 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 1:38.241 | 20 |
14 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 1:38.252 | 12 |
15 | Liam Lawson  Racing Bulls | 30 | 1:38.266 | 17 |
16 | Nico Hulkenberg  Audi | 27 | 1:38.356 | 14 |
17 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 1:38.692 | 12 |
18 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 1:38.716 | 21 |
19 | Lance Stroll  Aston Martin | 18 | 1:38.811 | 12 |
20 | Alexander Albon  Williams | 23 | 1:39.049 | 18 |
21 | Valtteri Bottas  Cadillac | 77 | 1:39.931 | 14 |
22 | Sergio Perez  Cadillac | 11 | 1:40.223 | 20 |
| Rank | Driver | Number | Fastest Lap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | 16 | 1:37.528 | 29 |
2 | Isack Hadjar Red Bull | 6 | 1:37.627 | 23 |
3 | Lando Norris McLaren | 1 | 1:37.665 | 25 |
4 | Max Verstappen Red Bull | 3 | 1:37.785 | 20 |
5 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 1:37.833 | 28 |
6 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | 81 | 1:37.899 | 26 |
7 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 1:38.020 | 28 |
8 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | 12 | 1:38.060 | 28 |
9 | Liam Lawson Racing Bulls | 30 | 1:38.496 | 30 |
10 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 1:38.588 | 29 |
11 | Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls | 41 | 1:38.880 | 33 |
12 | Gabriel Bortoleto Audi | 5 | 1:39.051 | 25 |
13 | Nico Hulkenberg Audi | 27 | 1:39.109 | 30 |
14 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 1:39.361 | 29 |
15 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 1:39.478 | 28 |
16 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 1:39.706 | 30 |
17 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 1:39.930 | 31 |
18 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | 18 | 1:40.150 | 26 |
19 | Valtteri Bottas Cadillac | 77 | 1:40.186 | 27 |
20 | Alexander Albon Williams | 23 | 1:40.221 | 30 |
21 | Sergio Perez Cadillac | 11 | 1:40.938 | 28 |
22 | Franco Colapinto Alpine | 43 | 1:43.391 | 31 |
| Rank | Driver | Number | Fastest Lap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Max Verstappen Red Bull | 3 | 1:37.520 | 23 |
2 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 1:37.903 | 25 |
3 | Isack Hadjar Red Bull | 6 | 1:38.303 | 23 |
4 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | 16 | 1:38.367 | 25 |
5 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | 12 | 1:38.580 | 23 |
6 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 1:38.590 | 21 |
7 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 1:38.715 | 22 |
8 | Liam Lawson Racing Bulls | 30 | 1:39.106 | 22 |
9 | Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls | 41 | 1:39.197 | 27 |
10 | Nico Hulkenberg Audi | 27 | 1:39.211 | 23 |
11 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | 81 | 1:39.276 | 23 |
12 | Lando Norris McLaren | 1 | 1:39.293 | 21 |
13 | Gabriel Bortoleto Audi | 5 | 1:39.548 | 25 |
14 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 1:39.683 | 22 |
15 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 1:40.158 | 23 |
16 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 1:40.311 | 23 |
17 | Alexander Albon Williams | 23 | 1:40.321 | 22 |
18 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | 18 | 1:40.413 | 19 |
19 | Franco Colapinto Alpine | 43 | 1:40.531 | 22 |
20 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 1:40.605 | 25 |
21 | Valtteri Bottas Cadillac | 77 | 1:40.800 | 23 |
22 | Sergio Perez Cadillac | 11 | 1:40.820 | 24 |
| Rank | Driver | Number | Qualifying 1 | Qualifying 1 | Qualifying 2 | Qualifying 2 | Qualifying 3 | Qualifying 3 | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Max Verstappen Red Bull | 3 | fastest lap 1:36.477 | fastest lap 1:36.477 | fastest lap 1:35.696 | fastest lap 1:35.696 | fastest lap 1:35.130 | fastest lap 1:35.130 | Qualifying 3, fastest lap 1:35.130 |
2 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 1:36.595 | 1:36.595 | 1:36.032 | 1:36.032 | 1:35.428 | 1:35.428 | Qualifying 3, 1:35.428 |
3 | Isack Hadjar Red Bull | 6 | 1:36.898 | 1:36.898 | 1:36.192 | 1:36.192 | 1:35.558 | 1:35.558 | Qualifying 3, 1:35.558 |
4 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | 12 | 1:37.041 | 1:37.041 | 1:35.959 | 1:35.959 | 1:35.631 | 1:35.631 | Qualifying 3, 1:35.631 |
5 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | 16 | 1:36.730 | 1:36.730 | 1:35.970 | 1:35.970 | 1:35.666 | 1:35.666 | Qualifying 3, 1:35.666 |
6 | Lando Norris McLaren | 1 | 1:37.092 | 1:37.092 | 1:36.173 | 1:36.173 | 1:35.757 | 1:35.757 | Qualifying 3, 1:35.757 |
7 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | 81 | 1:36.852 | 1:36.852 | 1:36.020 | 1:36.020 | 1:35.762 | 1:35.762 | Qualifying 3, 1:35.762 |
8 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 1:37.264 | 1:37.264 | 1:36.245 | 1:36.245 | 1:35.871 | 1:35.871 | Qualifying 3, 1:35.871 |
9 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 1:37.174 | 1:37.174 | 1:36.410 | 1:36.410 | 1:37.210 | 1:37.210 | Qualifying 3, 1:37.210 |
10 | Gabriel Bortoleto Audi | 5 | 1:37.106 | 1:37.106 | 1:36.814 | 1:36.814 | 1:37.673 | 1:37.673 | Qualifying 3, 1:37.673 |
11 | Liam Lawson Racing Bulls | 30 | 1:37.332 | 1:37.332 | 1:37.023 | 1:37.023 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:37.023 |
12 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 1:37.721 | 1:37.721 | 1:37.220 | 1:37.220 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:37.220 |
13 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 1:37.651 | 1:37.651 | 1:37.527 | 1:37.527 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:37.527 |
14 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | 18 | 1:37.729 | 1:37.729 | 1:37.566 | 1:37.566 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:37.566 |
15 | Franco Colapinto Alpine | 43 | 1:37.179 | 1:37.179 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:37.179 |
16 | Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls | 41 | 1:37.883 | 1:37.883 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:37.883 |
17 | Nico Hulkenberg Audi | 27 | 1:37.970 | 1:37.970 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:37.970 |
18 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 1:37.980 | 1:37.980 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:37.980 |
19 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 1:38.233 | 1:38.233 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:38.233 |
20 | Alexander Albon Williams | 23 | 1:38.600 | 1:38.600 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:38.600 |
21 | Valtteri Bottas Cadillac | 77 | 1:38.611 | 1:38.611 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:38.611 |
22 | Sergio Perez Cadillac | 11 | 1:38.933 | 1:38.933 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:38.933 |
| Rank | Driver | Number | Grid | Pits | Fastest Lap | Race Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Max Verstappen Red Bull | 3 | 1 | 3 | fastest overall lap 1:38.220 | 1:47:14.808 | 25 |
2 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | 12 | 3 | 3 | 1:38.589 | 2.307 behind | 18 |
3 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 2 | 2 | 1:38.610 | 4.919 behind | 15 |
4 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | 16 | 4 | 4 | 1:39.336 | 7.258 behind | 12 |
5 | Isack Hadjar Red Bull | 6 | 8 | 3 | 1:39.792 | 8.571 behind | 10 |
6 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | 81 | 6 | 4 | 1:39.485 | 9.454 behind | 8 |
7 | Liam Lawson Racing Bulls | 30 | 11 | 3 | 1:40.254 | 12.753 behind | 6 |
8 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 12 | 3 | 1:40.353 | 13.372 behind | 4 |
9 | Lando Norris McLaren | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1:39.970 | 13.993 behind | 2 |
10 | Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls | 41 | 22 | 3 | 1:40.315 | 15.928 behind | 1 |
11 | Nico Hulkenberg Audi | 27 | 15 | 4 | 1:41.394 | 17.404 behind | 0 |
12 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | 18 | 14 | 4 | 1:41.248 | 18.052 behind | 0 |
13 | Franco Colapinto Alpine | 43 | 21 | 3 | 1:40.988 | 18.997 behind | 0 |
14 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 16 | 3 | 1:40.366 | 22.305 behind | 0 |
15 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 17 | 3 | 1:42.062 | 22.532 behind | 0 |
16 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 9 | 4 | 1:41.514 | 23.315 behind | 0 |
17 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 13 | 3 | 1:41.738 | 25.431 behind | 0 |
18 | Gabriel Bortoleto Audi | 5 | 10 | 5 | 1:41.382 | 28.233 behind | 0 |
19 | Sergio Perez Cadillac | 11 | 20 | 7 | 1:42.688 | 29.310 behind | 0 |
20 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 7 | 0 | 1:40.715 | did not finish completed 55 laps | 0 |
not available | Alexander Albon Williams | 23 | 18 | 0 | 1:42.284 | did not finish completed 55 laps | 0 |
not available | Valtteri Bottas Cadillac | 77 | 19 | 0 | 1:59.953 | did not finish completed 55 laps | 0 |