Andrea Kimi AntonelliMartin Brundle 
via gpfans.comMartin Brundle calls Bahrain GP grid reset fair decisionMartin Brundle praised the FIA's decision to reset the grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix, describing it as 'smart and fair'. His comments followed the chaotic scenes that unfolded during the formation lap of the race.
gpfans.com+ 4 moreSat 3 Oct · 14:55 UTC
via Motorsport.comKimi Antonelli reacts to Bahrain GP P3 starting positionKimi Antonelli expressed surprise after learning he will start the Bahrain Grand Prix from third position. The Mercedes driver struggled during qualifying, finishing five-tenths behind polesitter Max Verstappen.
Motorsport.com+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 12:58 UTC
via AutosportMcLaren addresses Lando Norris's straight-line speed issuesLando Norris has experienced a recurring straight-line speed deficit in his McLaren MCL40, which has been particularly evident in recent races. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella confirmed that the team is investigating the underlying issues affecting Norris's performance compared to his teammate Oscar Piastri.
Autosport+ 4 moreSat 3 Oct · 12:49 UTC
via thejudge13.comRUMOURChristian Horner addresses Ferrari job speculationChristian Horner has clarified that he was not attempting to express interest in the Ferrari team principal position, despite recent comments that sparked media speculation. The Red Bull Racing team principal described Ferrari as a 'dream' but emphasised he was not throwing his hat in the ring for the role.
thejudge13.com+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 12:16 UTC
via Formula1.comAntonelli rues error after feeling ‘front row was possible’Kimi Antonelli will start from third position in the Bahrain Grand Prix after a challenging qualifying session. The Mercedes driver felt he could have secured a front row spot but lost time due to a track limits violation that invalidated his initial lap in Q2. This forced him to use new soft tyres, limiting his options in the final qualifying segment.
Despite the setback, Antonelli expressed optimism about the race, noting the possibility of multiple pit stops due to tyre degradation and the potential for rain. He acknowledged that while he could not compete for pole position against Max Verstappen, he is looking forward to making the most of his starting position.
Formula1.comSat 3 Oct · 11:45 UTC
via Motorsport.comKimi Antonelli eyes aggressive undercut attack in F1 MalaysiaKimi Antonelli will begin the Bahrain Grand Prix from third place, benefiting from Isack Hadjar's five-place grid penalty. Despite a strong performance in practice, Antonelli faced challenges during qualifying, finishing half a second behind Max Verstappen. He expressed disappointment but remains optimistic about the race, focusing on strategy and the potential of an aggressive undercut due to the circuit's characteristics.
Antonelli highlighted the difficulties posed by the abrasive track surface and the heat, which impact tyre performance. He emphasized the importance of strategy in the race, suggesting that Mercedes may adopt a two or three-stop approach. With the grid mixed, he is determined to maximize opportunities and aims to fight for a strong finish.Motorsport.comSat 3 Oct · 11:03 UTC
via Motorsport WeekGeorge Russell criticises Mercedes' poor qualifying in SepangGeorge Russell has described Mercedes' qualifying performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix as 'very bad', following a disappointing session after a promising practice. The team, which had shown competitive pace earlier, struggled to match the performance of Red Bull, who secured pole position.
Motorsport Week+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 10:27 UTC
via RacingNews3651 videoGeorge Russell perplexed by poor qualifying in SepangGeorge Russell expressed confusion over his disappointing qualifying performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, where he finished eighth. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also voiced his bafflement at the team's unexpected lack of pace despite recent upgrades.
RacingNews365+ 4 moreSat 3 Oct · 10:22 UTC
via f1oversteer.comToto Wolff saw something for the ‘first time’ as Max Verstappen destroyed Kimi Antonelli at SepangDuring qualifying for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, Max Verstappen of Red Bull achieved pole position, marking his first of the season. He outpaced Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton, with Antonelli finishing third and Hamilton second. Wolff expressed surprise at the significant performance gap, attributing it to Mercedes' struggles with drag and understeer despite introducing a new aerodynamic upgrade package.
Wolff highlighted that the team's expectations for the upgrades did not align with the actual performance observed during qualifying. Antonelli had previously topped practice sessions, leading to high hopes for the race weekend. However, the qualifying results revealed a disappointing outcome for Mercedes, prompting Wolff to call for a thorough analysis to understand the discrepancies and improve their performance moving forward.
f1oversteer.comSat 3 Oct · 10:00 UTC
via RacingNews365Toto Wolff expresses confusion over Mercedes' paceToto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, has voiced his confusion regarding the team's performance following a significant upgrade package for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Despite expectations of improved pace, both Kimi Antonelli and George Russell struggled during qualifying, leaving Wolff to suggest that 'something else is going on'.
Crash+ 3 moreSat 3 Oct · 09:50 UTC
via RaceFansMercedes questions effectiveness of Bahrain GP upgradesToto Wolff has expressed confusion over the performance of Mercedes' latest upgrade package after the Bahrain Grand Prix, suggesting it may have hindered rather than improved the team's competitiveness. Andrea Kimi Antonelli also acknowledged uncertainty about whether the upgrades made the car faster or slower, as the team struggled during qualifying.
RaceFans+ 4 moreSat 3 Oct · 09:38 UTC
via RaceFansMax Verstappen secures first pole of 2026 in MalaysiaMax Verstappen achieved his first pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The result marks a significant milestone for Red Bull, as it is their first pole with their in-house power unit developed in collaboration with Ford.RaceFans+ 7 moreSat 3 Oct · 09:10 UTC
via PlanetF144 videosVerstappen claims pole position for Bahrain Grand PrixMax Verstappen secured his first pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit. The Red Bull driver outpaced Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who will start in second place.
PlanetF1+ 10 moreSat 3 Oct · 09:05 UTC
via RaceFans22 videosqualifying results for 2026 Bahrain Grand PrixQualifying for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix took place at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. The session focused on the battle for pole position ahead of the race.RaceFans+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 09:03 UTC
via racer.comKimi Antonelli leads Mercedes in Bahrain final practiceKimi Antonelli set the fastest time in final practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix, placing Mercedes at the top of the order. The championship leader outpaced Max Verstappen of Red Bull, showcasing a strong performance ahead of the race.
racer.com+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 05:42 UTC
via RaceFansAntonelli leads the Red Bulls in final practice | Formula 1In the final practice session at the Sepang International Circuit, Andrea Kimi Antonelli achieved the fastest lap, putting Mercedes at the top for the first time this weekend. He outpaced his teammate George Russell, who is also a contender for the championship, by more than half a second, showcasing the effectiveness of Mercedes' new upgrade package.
The Red Bull drivers, including Max Verstappen, managed to place themselves between the two Mercedes drivers, with Verstappen nearly three-tenths of a second slower than Antonelli. Meanwhile, both Ferrari drivers struggled, clocking in seven-tenths slower than the session leader. The drivers faced challenges due to the track's abrasive surface, which made it difficult to achieve optimal lap times.RaceFansSat 3 Oct · 05:41 UTC
via Motorsport.comKimi Antonelli leads Mercedes in final practice at SepangKimi Antonelli topped the final practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, marking a significant turnaround for Mercedes after a challenging Friday. The performance highlighted the team's potential following recent upgrades and provided valuable data for their race strategy.Motorsport.com+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 05:40 UTC
via f1oversteer.comKimi Antonelli tops final practice at Bahrain Grand PrixKimi Antonelli of Mercedes achieved the fastest time in Free Practice 3 for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen by 0.278 seconds. This performance sets the stage for a competitive qualifying session between Mercedes and Red Bull.f1oversteer.com+ 3 moreSat 3 Oct · 05:33 UTC
via f1chronicle.com1 videoToto Wolff addresses George Russell's struggles with AntonelliToto Wolff has acknowledged that George Russell found it difficult to cope with Kimi Antonelli's impressive start to the 2026 season, where Antonelli won five consecutive races. Wolff expressed optimism that both Mercedes drivers would maintain respect for the team's interests despite the challenges.
f1chronicle.com+ 1 moreFri 2 Oct · 22:25 UTC
via f1oversteer.comLaurent Mekies admits he'd love the Max Verstappen 'problem' Martin Brundle can now see for Red BullLaurent Mekies of Red Bull Racing expressed enthusiasm about the competitive dynamic between Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, following their recent success. The duo achieved a double podium finish, marking a significant improvement for the team this season, and Mekies highlighted Hadjar's impressive performance in Baku as a turning point for the second seat at Red Bull.
Mekies acknowledged the potential challenges of managing two strong drivers competing for points but views it as a positive situation for the team. He emphasized the importance of teamwork and the possibility of making difficult decisions in the future, indicating that both drivers are committed to maximizing team results. With Hadjar eager to establish his position and Verstappen focusing on the upcoming season, Red Bull appears to be in a strong position moving forward.f1oversteer.comFri 2 Oct · 19:00 UTC
via f1oversteer.comKimi Antonelli highlights Mercedes W17 weaknessesKimi Antonelli has pointed out a significant shortcoming in the Mercedes W17, raising concerns about the team's recent upgrade following the Bahrain Grand Prix. Mercedes experienced difficulties during the event, struggling to integrate their aerodynamic improvements effectively.f1oversteer.com+ 1 moreFri 2 Oct · 16:00 UTC
via theguardian.comKimi Antonelli tops FP3 at Bahrain Grand Prix in MalaysiaKimi Antonelli topped the final practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, recovering from a challenging Friday for Mercedes. His performance alleviated concerns regarding the team's upgraded W17 car, although team-mate George Russell was six tenths slower.
theguardian.com+ 3 moreFri 2 Oct · 15:22 UTC
via espn.comVerstappen: Russell winning title 'not impossible'Max Verstappen has stated that George Russell requires a significant improvement to have a chance at catching Kimi Antonelli in the world championship standings. Heading into the Bahrain Grand Prix, Russell is currently 66 points behind Antonelli, who has won eight races this season compared to Russell's three. Despite a strong performance in Azerbaijan, where Russell led every lap, the gap remains substantial.
Verstappen highlighted the challenges Russell faces, noting the differences in driving styles and the impact of new regulations on performance. He acknowledged Antonelli's exceptional talent and the difficulties rookies encounter with the current ground-effect cars. As the drivers prepare for the physically demanding conditions in Malaysia, both Russell and Antonelli will need to overcome their practice mistakes to improve their standings.
espn.comFri 2 Oct · 12:47 UTC%2FGettyImages-2298210625.webp&w=1200&q=70)
via Formula1.comMcLaren admits error in Bahrain Grand Prix strategyAndrea Stella, McLaren's team principal, acknowledged that the team made an incorrect judgement regarding their tyre strategy during the Bahrain Grand Prix. Lando Norris, who qualified sixth, found himself at the back of the pack shortly after the race began due to this miscalculation.Formula1.com+ 1 moreFri 2 Oct · 10:53 UTC