What changed
Red Bull’s upgraded car delivered its biggest qualifying breakthrough of the season at Sepang. Max Verstappen took his first pole of 2026, with Lewis Hamilton about 0.3 seconds behind in second; Isack Hadjar qualified third but will start eighth after an engine-parts penalty.
The result is a striking reversal for a team that began the year more than 0.5 seconds per lap slower than Mercedes on average. A new floor, tested after Red Bull came within 0.2 seconds of victory in Baku, appears to have transformed the car’s balance.
Why it matters
Verstappen now has the fastest car on the grid at a circuit where heat, rough asphalt and long corners punish instability. Hamilton’s expectation is blunt: he is trying to hold on. That puts pressure on Mercedes’ race pace and leaves Kimi Antonelli, starting third after Hadjar’s penalty, as another possible threat.
The real test comes on Sunday. Extreme heat is expected to drive tyre degradation, and threatened rain could scramble strategy. Red Bull’s pace is genuine at Sepang, but whether the upgrade represents a lasting shift or a track-specific advantage remains uncertain.
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