Red Bull is back on top, and it has happened at one of the most unexpected moments of the season. As Formula 1 returns to the Sepang International Circuit after a nine-year absence, Max Verstappen has secured Red Bull’s first pole position of the 2026 season.
For the first time since the beginning of the championship, a non-Mercedes-powered car will start a Grand Prix from pole, bringing an end to the qualifying dominance that had characterised the opening part of the campaign.
Verstappen sets the benchmark in Q3
The four-time Formula 1 World Champion was the man to beat throughout the decisive stages of qualifying, delivering two impressive laps in Q3.
Verstappen eventually secured pole by 0.298 seconds over Lewis Hamilton, who produced an excellent performance to claim a place on the front row.
The seven-time World Champion delivered a strong final lap and managed to split the two Red Bulls, beating Isack Hadjar to second position.
Hadjar qualified third after another impressive performance, although he is set to drop five places on Sunday’s starting grid following the replacement of power unit components.
Difficult qualifying for Mercedes
It proved to be a disappointing Saturday for Mercedes.
Despite bringing a significant upgrade package to Malaysia, the Silver Arrows were unable to maintain the advantage they had shown earlier in the weekend.
Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli could only manage fourth place, approximately half a second behind Verstappen, while teammate and title rival George Russell struggled to eighth.
Between the two Mercedes drivers came Charles Leclerc in fifth for Ferrari, followed by the McLarens of reigning World Champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in sixth and seventh respectively.
Pierre Gasly placed his Alpine ninth, while Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top ten for Audi.
Aston Martin makes progress at Sepang
There were also encouraging signs for Aston Martin, which managed to get both cars into Q2 for the first time this season.
Fernando Alonso qualified 12th, with Carlos Sainz’s Williams in 13th and Lance Stroll taking 14th position.
Further down the order, several drivers face a difficult Sunday.
Franco Colapinto and rookie Arvid Lindblad failed to record qualifying times and will also serve significant penalties following changes to power unit components, with the Racing Bulls youngster set to start from the back of the grid.
It was also a difficult session for Cadillac, with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez ending qualifying at the rear of the field. Perez, in particular, endured a frustrating session at the circuit where he famously claimed his first Formula 1 podium in 2012.
Verstappen targets Red Bull’s first win of 2026
Verstappen will therefore line up at the front of the grid at Sepang, with Hamilton alongside him on the first row.
After finally breaking Mercedes’ qualifying dominance, the Red Bull driver will now attempt to convert pole position into the team’s first Grand Prix victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
With grid penalties set to reshuffle the order behind the front row, the stage is set for an unpredictable race at Sepang.