Hamilton sees no easy ride against Verstappen despite front-row spot
Photo: Race Pictures
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Tobia is a Formula 1 journalist at GPblog with experience at international circuits. Since 2022, he has covered Grands Prix across Europe, delivering reliable coverage and insights from the paddock.
Lewis Hamilton managed to put his SF26 on the front row for the Bahrain GP, with the Ferrari driver even posting a purple sector in the middle sector. However, it was still not enough to beat a Max Verstappen who was in sublime form at Sepang today.
The Briton made his final attempt to snatch pole position in the dying moments of Q3, before Verstappen improved once again to secure pole by almost three tenths and claim his first of the season.
The seven-time world champion was clearly delighted with the result, expressing his excitement over the radio at the end of the lap, almost appearing even happier than Verstappen himself after taking pole. The two will now line up alongside each other once again on the front row, just like in their glory days.
Hamilton emerged from qualifying pleased with Ferrari’s progress, particularly given the difficult conditions created by the high temperatures. The heat put the tyres under significant stress and made it difficult for the car to maintain a consistent balance, with the drivers also having to contend with increased sliding. Ferrari continued to make adjustments throughout the sessions before finding a set-up that allowed Hamilton to get the most out of the car when it mattered.
Photo: Race Pictures
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The result was a front-row starting position and a significant reduction in the gap to Verstappen, who set the pace throughout the weekend. Hamilton managed to get within two or three tenths of the Red Bull driver, leaving the seven-time world champion highly satisfied with the outcome and appreciative of the work carried out by his Ferrari crew.
“It’s so hot here. I keep saying it, but that’s made it a massive challenge for the tyres, the car, the mechanics in the garage. I’m really, really thankful to my team. We made so many changes through all these practice sessions.
“Because the cars are sliding, the tyres are overheating, it was really hard to find a good balance, and we made one last change going into qualifying and I think we hit the sweet spot. To be able to close the gap to two or three tenths to Max, who’s been so quick all weekend, is great, and I’m so grateful."
Looking ahead to the race, Hamilton was encouraged by the progress made, but stressed that qualifying pace would count for little once the lights go out. The biggest concern will be tyre management, with the extreme heat likely to push the compounds towards overheating from the opening laps. Even small moments of wheelspin or instability could have a major impact on tyre life, making consistency particularly important over the race distance.
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Hamilton nevertheless feels Ferrari has found a strong balance with the SF26 and will now look to put it to good use in the race. However, he is well aware of the threat posed by Verstappen, whose long-run pace has been particularly impressive. Starting alongside the Red Bull on the front row, Hamilton's immediate objective will be to stay with the Dutchman and make the most of what could be a closely fought battle.
“I’m much happier with where the car is, but tomorrow is a completely different ballgame. Making these tyres last around this track – I mean, they’re overheating from the get-go.
“Every little bit of wheelspin you have, every little snap you have makes a difference of how far you’re going to go. I like to think we’ve got a good balance. Max was really quick on his long runs, so I’ll just try my best to hold onto him tomorrow.”
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