Verstappen Ends Red Bull Pole Drought With Bahrain Qualifying Masterclass

Max Verstappen secured Red Bull’s first pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season with a dominant qualifying display at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion topped all three qualifying sessions to finish 0.298 seconds clear of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and claim his first pole of the campaign.

Verstappen’s previous pole position came at last year’s Abu Dhabi season finale, where he also went on to win the race.

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar produced the third-fastest time, but his five-place grid penalty will drop him down the starting order, promoting championship leader Kimi Antonelli to third.

Antonelli’s Mercedes team-mate and closest title rival, George Russell, endured a difficult session and could manage only eighth.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified fifth, with McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri taking sixth and seventh respectively.

Fernando Alonso secured Aston Martin’s best qualifying result of the season so far with 12th place. The Spaniard, who has confirmed he will remain in Formula 1 for at least another year in 2027, finished behind Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson.

Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll qualified 14th, with Williams driver Carlos Sainz splitting the two Aston Martins.

Verstappen’s commanding performance gives Red Bull a strong starting position as the team seeks its first race victory of the 2026 campaign, while Hamilton will start alongside him on the front row for Ferrari.