The F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE coverage is now underway on Auto India Daily as Formula 1 heads into the crucial qualifying session at the Sepang International Circuit. The session is scheduled to begin at 1:30 PM IST today, with drivers battling for pole position ahead of Sunday’s 56-lap Grand Prix.
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Kimi Antonelli enters qualifying after setting the fastest time in FP3, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren will now fight for the front positions on the grid.
The F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE page will bring you the latest confirmed developments, Q1, Q2 and Q3 results, major incidents and the final starting grid as the session unfolds.
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14:55 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying Results
Check Full Results Here – F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying Results: Verstappen Takes Pole, Hamilton P2; Hadjar P3
14:34 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Verstappen Takes Pole Position
Max Verstappen takes pole position for the first time in 2026. Lewis Hamilton qualifies second, splitting the two Red Bulls, while Isack Hadjar takes third.
The chequered flag is out to end Q3, with George Russell unable to improve and set to start seventh at best.
14:28 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Antonelli Moves Third in Q3
Q3 is underway at Sepang, with the green flags out for the final qualifying segment. All drivers are on new tyres except Pierre Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto.
After the opening runs, Max Verstappen leads the timesheets, with Isack Hadjar second. Kimi Antonelli has moved into third place, behind the two Red Bulls, while Lewis Hamilton was third earlier in the session.
14:14 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Six Drivers Eliminated in Q2
Max Verstappen leads Q2 ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc. Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll, Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad have been eliminated from qualifying.
14:12 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Antonelli Moves to Second in Q2
The chequered flag is out in Q2, although drivers are still completing their final fast laps. Kimi Antonelli has moved into second and is currently in a strong position to progress to Q3, while Liam Lawson has dropped out of the top 10 and is now at risk.
14:06 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Verstappen Tops Q2 as Antonelli Loses Lap
Max Verstappen has moved to the top of the Q2 timesheets with a 1:35.695, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Kimi Antonelli has had his first flying lap deleted, while George Russell is currently seventh.
14:04 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Verstappen Leads Early in Q2
Q2 is now underway, with the first flying laps coming in. Max Verstappen is currently at the top of the timesheets in the early stages, while Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are running on used soft tyres.
13:56 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Stroll Faces Post-Session Investigation
Both Aston Martin drivers advanced to Q2, with Fernando Alonso finishing 14th and Lance Stroll 15th in Q1. Stroll will also face an investigation after the session for failing to follow the race director’s instructions regarding the maximum delta time.
13:53 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Verstappen Leads as Six Drivers Exit Q1
Max Verstappen leads Q1 ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The chequered flag is out, with Nico Hulkenberg, Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon, Alexander Albon, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez eliminated from qualifying.
13:43 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Six Drivers Under Pressure in Q1
After the first runs in Q1, Esteban Ocon, Alexander Albon, Oliver Bearman, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are currently among the drivers at risk of elimination. The slowest six drivers at the end of Q1 will be knocked out of qualifying.
13:41 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Verstappen Goes Fastest in Q1
Max Verstappen has gone fastest on his first flying lap, setting a 1:36.477 to move ahead of Isack Hadjar and Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari has also moved strongly, with Lewis Hamilton going second and Charles Leclerc third.
13:40 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Esteban Ocon Sets First Q1 Time
Esteban Ocon has set the first timed lap of Q1, stopping the clock at 1:38.879. The Red Bull and Mercedes drivers are also now out on track as the opening qualifying session gets underway.
13:34 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Q1 Gets Underway
Q1 is now underway at Sepang, with Esteban Ocon the first driver out on track. The opening session will run for 18 minutes, with the slowest six drivers eliminated from qualifying. Grey skies are overhead, although there is currently only a 10% chance of rain.
13:28 — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying LIVE: Session Gets Underway
Qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia is set to begin at 1:30 PM IST at the Sepang International Circuit. The session will determine the starting order for Sunday’s race.
Stay with Auto India Daily for live F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying updates from the Sepang International Circuit.
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Raj Prajapati is a Senior Automotive Content Writer at AutoIndiaDaily. A B.Tech graduate in Computer Science and Engineering, he leverages over four years of experience covering Indian car and bike launches, EV tech, and market dynamics to break down complex automotive regulations into simple consumer guides. Specialising in Indian motor vehicle laws, IRDAI updates, and ownership costs, Raj translates technical auto policies into actionable advice for everyday drivers.