Verstappen takes Sepang pole ahead of Hamilton
Max Verstappen qualified ahead of Lewis Hamilton at Sepang, putting the pair in that order at the front of qualifying for the first time since Abu Dhabi in 2021.
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Max Verstappen qualified ahead of Lewis Hamilton at Sepang, putting the pair in that order at the front of qualifying for the first time since Abu Dhabi in 2021.
Isack Hadjar is set to start eighth at Sepang despite qualifying third. He believes he can recover from a five-place grid penalty.
Organisers moved equipment and more than 500 personnel to Malaysia, but Friday’s crowd exposed problems with facilities and access at Sepang.
Red Bull returned an unused hard-tyre set after practice, leaving Max Verstappen with one fresh set for the race at Sepang.
Verstappen topped every qualifying segment and says he is confident in his choices for the race, while Hamilton expects overtaking to be difficult.
Red Bull took second and third in final practice at Sepang, prompting former F1 driver Anthony Davidson to describe the team as Mercedes’ biggest threat.
A bollard beside the pit-lane entrance has been moved ahead of third practice, with the aim of giving drivers who run wide a way back onto the circuit.
Red Bull’s team principal says a future need to make difficult calls between Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar would be a sign of strength.
A Red Bull mechanic appeared to signal Isack to move off as Charles Leclerc passed behind him in Malaysia, RacingNews365 reports.
Both Red Bull drivers see the remaining 2026 races as a chance to learn, while Verstappen says the car and power unit need a much bigger step for 2027.
Isack Hadjar believes Max Verstappen’s experience in Malaysia could offer Red Bull a small advantage, while tyre management shapes his preparations.
Isack Hadjar says he will take his first race weekend at Sepang step by step, despite Red Bull’s double podium in Azerbaijan.
An Autosport reporter argues that fuel development is an overlooked part of F1’s 2026 competition, as ExxonMobil describes its work with Red Bull.
Mercedes has brought a substantial upgrade, but George Russell expects rivals’ recent packages to be among their last major changes this season.
Isack Hadjar expects a five-place grid penalty for his next race and says Red Bull’s race pace will determine his chances of recovering.
Liam Lawson says his three races as an injury replacement at Red Bull have not changed his outlook for 2027, despite two points finishes.
Red Bull is broadly open to a V8 return, but its team principal says the priority is flat-out racing as the details of future F1 engine rules remain under discussion.
Max Verstappen has spoken about his bond with Gianpiero Lambiase as RacingNews365 Nederland reports that his race engineer will join McLaren by 2028.
Lewis Hamilton’s retirement on lap 41 opened the way for a Red Bull one-two at the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix, with Daniel Ricciardo holding off Max Verstappen.
Jan Lammers thinks Sepang could suit Max Verstappen and Red Bull, but expects Mercedes to present the biggest obstacle to a win.
Ralf Schumacher has challenged Christian Horner’s account of Helmut Marko’s early stance on recruiting Max Verstappen.
After Isack Hadjar’s podium return in Baku, former team principal Giancarlo Minardi says he could challenge Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
Red Bull came close to its first win of 2026 in Azerbaijan. Verstappen believes it was the team’s best chance, but team boss Laurent Mekies hopes more will follow.
Max Verstappen rose from eighth to second in Azerbaijan, with Isack Hadjar third. Red Bull’s team principal pointed to power-unit management and car improvements.