OFFICIAL GRID: Who's where for the Bahrain GP as Lindblad, Hadjar and Colapinto take penalties

The full official starting order for Sunday's 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - OCTOBER 02: Arvid Lindblad of Great Britain and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls

What a front row we have as the Bahrain Grand Prix brings Formula 1 back to Kuala Lumpur’s spectacular Sepang International Circuit, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on pole for the first time this year and the Ferrari of arch-rival Lewis Hamilton alongside.

In Qualifying it was a Red Bull one-three, but Isack Hadjar drops to P8 on the grid thanks to a power unit penalty. That means row two comprises the Mercedes of championship leader Kimi Antonelli and the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

It’s an all-McLaren third row with reigning champion Lando Norris heading team mate Oscar Piastri, before Hadjar and our last race winner, Mercedes’ George Russell, fill out row four. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto complete the top 10.

At the back of the pack are Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad. Colapinto has a five-place penalty for his Turn 1 collision last time out in Baku, coupled with a 10-place drop for taking on new power unit elements. Lindblad also has new PU components, resulting in a combined 30-place demotion.

Starting Grid

FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX IN MALAYSIA 2026

Pos.DriverTime
1Max VerstappenVER1:35.130
2Lewis HamiltonHAM1:35.428
3Kimi AntonelliANT1:35.631
4Charles LeclercLEC1:35.666
5Lando NorrisNOR1:35.757
6Oscar PiastriPIA1:35.762
7George RussellRUS1:35.871
8Isack HadjarHAD1:35.558
9Pierre GaslyGAS1:37.210
10Gabriel BortoletoBOR1:37.673
View all standings

The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia starts at 1500 local time. Be sure to join our live coverage from 1400 here.