Lewis Hamilton qualified second at Sepang on Saturday 3 October, putting Ferrari on the front row alongside Max Verstappen for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Formula 1's official starting grid, issued on Sunday 4 October, confirmed the Briton's place ahead of the race.

Verstappen's final Q3 lap of 1:35.130 secured his first pole position of 2026. Hamilton recorded 1:35.428, a gap of 0.298 seconds. The FIA's qualifying report identified the result as Verstappen's 49th career pole, while Hamilton's late improvement gave Ferrari a direct challenge to the leading Red Bull.

Ferrari's balance change pays off

Speaking to Formula 1 after qualifying, Hamilton credited a final change to the car before the session. Ferrari had worked through several adjustments during practice as sliding and tyre overheating made it difficult to find a useful balance in Malaysia's heat. Hamilton said the last adjustment helped him close the gap over one lap.

His assessment came with a separate concern for the race: preserving the tyres over a longer stint. He explained that wheelspin, sudden slides and wind conditions could all affect how long the tyres lasted. The better qualifying balance therefore came without a promise that Ferrari would match Verstappen's race pace.

Team-mate Charles Leclerc described rear balance problems as he pushed harder in the later qualifying sessions. He finished fifth in qualifying, but moved to fourth on the published starting grid.

Penalties change the order behind

Isack Hadjar was third fastest in Q3 but received a five-place grid penalty for an engine change. The official order placed him eighth, promoting Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli to third alongside Leclerc on row two.

For the other leading British drivers, Lando Norris was fifth on the grid ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. George Russell occupied seventh for Mercedes, next to Hadjar. These positions are the official starting order for 4 October; the lap times describe qualifying on 3 October, rather than the Grand Prix result.

Sources