What the teams said – Qualifying in Malaysia

Max Verstappen secured his first pole position of the 2026 season at the Sepang International Circuit, dominating Qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Verstappen was untouchable throughout the session, finishing nearly three tenths clear of Lewis Hamilton. Despite a strong performance from Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar, who qualified third, a grid penalty will see him start from eighth, promoting Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli to the second row. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton put in an impressive performance to secure second on the grid, while teammate Charles Leclerc will start fifth. Mercedes had a challenging day, with George Russell struggling to eighth and Kimi Antonelli, despite his strong qualifying effort, noting that the high tyre degradation will be the primary factor in Sunday's race. McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri qualified sixth and seventh, respectively, aiming to bridge the gap to Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship. Midfield teams experienced mixed fortunes, with Alpine's Pierre Gasly putting in a strong effort to secure ninth, while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto reached Q3 for the first time since Zandvoort, qualifying tenth. The race on Sunday is expected to be a grueling test of tyre management and consistency, with teams anticipating multiple pit stops and potential weather disruptions at the demanding Sepang circuit.