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Verstappen Tipped to Win Bahrain GP in Malaysia From Pole
123Helmets Editorial Team
Max Verstappen is tipped by readers to end his win drought at the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia after taking pole position at Sepang with a 1:35.130. Race day is 2026-10-04, and this report covers qualifying and a reader poll, not a race result.
Key Takeaways
Max Verstappen took pole at Sepang with a 1:35.130, 0.298 seconds clear of Lewis Hamilton.
Isack Hadjar qualified third but has been demoted on the grid because of a new engine.
More than 60 per cent of RacingNews365 readers picked Verstappen to win.
Hamilton polled 17 per cent and Kimi Antonelli 16 per cent as the next favourites.
Verstappen on pole at Sepang
Max Verstappen starts the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia from pole position after topping qualifying with a 1:35.130.
The Red Bull driver finished 0.298 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari. Race day at Sepang International Circuit is 2026-10-04, round 16 of a 23-round calendar.
How the top five lined up
Hamilton qualified second, Isack Hadjar third, Kimi Antonelli fourth and Charles Leclerc fifth.
Hadjar put the second Red Bull third on the grid, ahead of Antonelli’s Mercedes. Leclerc completing the top five gave Ferrari two cars inside the opening five rows.
Hadjar’s grid demotion
Isack Hadjar has been demoted on the grid because of a new engine.
The source does not say how many places he drops, so his exact starting slot is not confirmed here.
What readers expect
More than 60 per cent of RacingNews365 readers expect Verstappen to win in Bahrain.
The question put to readers was who will win the race. Hamilton was named second favourite with 17 per cent, just ahead of Antonelli on 16 per cent. The remaining votes were split sparingly among the rest of the grid.
The championship picture
After round 15, Antonelli leads the Drivers’ standings on 302 points, with Hamilton third on 199.
Mercedes lead the Constructors’ standings on 538 points ahead of Ferrari on 378. Verstappen’s pole comes with Red Bull outside the top three teams, as McLaren hold third on 306. Collectors can browse Max Verstappen helmets in the shop.
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This article was written with the help of AI tools. Editorial policy
