Charles LeclercGeorge RussellMax VerstappenOscar Piastri 
via Motorsport.comMcLaren shares "heartwarming" Oscar Piastri moment with young fan at SepangDuring the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, Oscar Piastri had a touching encounter with a young fan named Harry, who has overcome leukaemia twice. The McLaren team arranged for Harry to meet Piastri, where he received a tour of the garage, advice on karting, and had his hat signed by the driver.
The moment resonated with fans on social media, highlighting the positive impact that drivers like Piastri can have as role models. As for the race, Piastri qualified seventh but will start from sixth on the grid due to a penalty for another driver, Isack Hadjar. He expressed cautious optimism about the race, noting the importance of strategy and tire degradation.
Motorsport.comSat 3 Oct · 12:44 UTC
via PlanetF1Verstappen responds to Russell's complaints about heatMax Verstappen has dismissed George Russell's concerns regarding the extreme heat at the Sepang circuit, suggesting Russell is 'making a fuss'. Russell had highlighted Mercedes' decision not to develop a better cooling vest due to budget cap restrictions.
PlanetF1+ 4 moreSat 3 Oct · 12:40 UTC%2FGettyImages-2298168619.webp&w=1200&q=70)
via Formula1.comFernando Alonso achieves Aston Martin's best result in 2026Fernando Alonso secured Aston Martin's best finish of the 2026 Formula 1 season with an eighth-place result at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. This performance marked the team's first points since August and was described by Alonso as a 'miracle' given the challenges faced this season.
Formula1.com+ 2 moreSat 3 Oct · 12:32 UTC
via BBC Sport'Incredible' Red Bull upgrade enlivens F1 in 'roasting hot' MalaysiaMax Verstappen achieved his first pole position of the 2026 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, showcasing a dominant performance throughout the weekend. Lewis Hamilton, starting from second, expressed concerns about Verstappen's pace, recalling their intense rivalry from previous seasons. Red Bull's recent upgrades have significantly improved their car's performance, allowing Verstappen to take the lead in qualifying.
Isack Hadjar, who missed the first three races after an injury, noted a marked improvement in the car's handling since his return. Meanwhile, Mercedes faced challenges with their new aerodynamic upgrade, struggling to find the right balance on the demanding Sepang track. Kimi Antonelli, starting from third, highlighted the importance of strategy and track position for the upcoming race, particularly in the hot conditions expected.
BBC SportSat 3 Oct · 12:25 UTC
via Motorsport.comHamilton calls Bahrain qualifying his best of 2026Lewis Hamilton described his front-row qualifying performance for the Bahrain Grand Prix as the 'best lap' of his 2026 Formula 1 season. He expressed surprise at achieving this position alongside Max Verstappen, noting that the Mercedes car felt great.Motorsport.com+ 2 moreSat 3 Oct · 12:10 UTC
via Sky Sports F1Hamilton and Verstappen set for Bahrain Grand Prix duelLewis Hamilton expressed excitement about the prospect of a competitive race against Max Verstappen at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Both drivers will start from the front row, heightening anticipation for a thrilling showdown.
Sky Sports F1Sat 3 Oct · 12:00 UTC
via Motorsport.comMax Verstappen takes pole position in Bahrain Grand PrixMax Verstappen secured pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, marking the first non-Mercedes-powered pole in recent history. Lewis Hamilton expressed excitement about the potential for an intense race, highlighting the importance for Ferrari to focus on their own performance.Motorsport.com+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 12:00 UTC
via gpfans.comF1 drivers criticise chaotic Bahrain Grand PrixFormula 1 drivers have described the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia as 'horrible' and 'totally unacceptable' following a series of issues during the race. The event, which featured a delayed start and challenging wet conditions, has drawn widespread criticism from fans and participants alike.
gpfans.com+ 3 moreSat 3 Oct · 11:57 UTC
via Motorsport.comVerstappen praises Red Bull's improvements after poleMax Verstappen has acknowledged significant improvements in the Red Bull car after securing pole position in Malaysia. This comes less than a month after he described the car as 'made of paper' due to concerns over its degradation during the Monza qualifying.Motorsport.com+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 11:56 UTC
via F1i‘I’m ready’: Verstappen sets sights on long-awaited 2026 winMax Verstappen has finally put himself in the perfect position to end his long wait for a 2026...
F1iSat 3 Oct · 11:38 UTC
via CrashMax Verstappen to race against Valentino Rossi in GT3Max Verstappen will compete alongside Valentino Rossi for the first time in a GT3 race at Portimao. The four-time Formula 1 champion expressed his hope to avoid an on-track battle with the MotoGP legend during the event.
Crash+ 2 moreSat 3 Oct · 11:31 UTC
via gpfans.comF1 confirms Qatar and Abu Dhabi races will proceedFormula One CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that the final two races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead as scheduled. This decision comes despite ongoing conflicts in the region and follows the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races.gpfans.com+ 2 moreSat 3 Oct · 10:57 UTC
via PlanetF1Max Verstappen claims Red Bull's breakthrough at SepangMax Verstappen secured pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, marking his first pole since the end of the 2025 season. He attributed this achievement to Red Bull's recent development efforts, stating that the team has successfully addressed previous weaknesses.PlanetF1+ 5 moreSat 3 Oct · 10:51 UTC
via racer.comMercedes upgrades fail to improve W17 performanceMercedes' recent upgrades to the W17 Formula One car did not yield the expected performance boost during qualifying at the Sepang circuit. Team principal Toto Wolff expressed confusion over the car's struggles, as both drivers failed to secure a top-three position.
racer.com+ 6 moreSat 3 Oct · 10:50 UTC
via racer.com1 videoFive years on from the Abu Dhabi debacle, Verstappen and Hamilton are sharing the front row againMax Verstappen achieved his first pole position of the season during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. His impressive lap time placed him nearly three-tenths of a second ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who qualified in second place for Ferrari.
Isack Hadjar qualified third, while Kimi Antonelli, the current title leader, secured fourth in his Mercedes. Charles Leclerc completed the top five, finishing half a second slower than Verstappen's leading time.racer.comSat 3 Oct · 13:17 UTC
via Motorsport.comLando Norris highlights McLaren's straight-line speed issuesLando Norris has expressed frustration over McLaren's ongoing straight-line speed deficit, which he estimates costs him nearly two-tenths of a second per lap. Team principal Andrea Stella confirmed that McLaren and Mercedes High Performance Powertrains are investigating the issue affecting Norris's performance.Motorsport.com+ 5 moreSat 3 Oct · 10:44 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 CrashToto 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 RacingNews365Max Verstappen reflects on Bahrain GP start issuesMax Verstappen described the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix as "very hectic" due to a temporary loss of power that affected his getaway. The four-time Formula 1 champion secured his first win of the season with Red Bull, marking a significant achievement for the team.RacingNews365+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 09:26 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 RacingNews3651 videoVerstappen takes pole ahead of Hamilton in MalaysiaMax Verstappen secured pole position for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, marking Red Bull's first pole of the season. Lewis Hamilton will start alongside him on the front row, reigniting their historic rivalry.RacingNews365+ 2 moreSat 3 Oct · 09:09 UTC