Verstappen and Hamilton side by side again, Antonelli lurking: Final Bahrain GP grid

Verstappen and Hamilton will share the front row of the grid for the 14th time in their Formula 1 careers, setting up another direct battle between the two rivals at the start.

Verstappen will line up on pole position after setting a 1:35.130 in qualifying, with Hamilton alongside him in second after finishing 0.298 seconds behind. The Ferrari driver could also have a potential strategic advantage during the race, as he has two fresh sets of hard tyres available compared to Verstappen’s one, a factor that could prove particularly valuable given the high levels of degradation expected at Sepang.

Kimi Antonelli will start directly behind the Red Bull driver in third, while Charles Leclerc completes the second row in fourth for Ferrari. The third row will feature Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with the two McLaren drivers starting fifth and sixth respectively.

George Russell will line up seventh, while Isack Hadjar drops to eighth despite setting a 1:35.558 in qualifying, a time that had initially earned him an impressive third place. The Red Bull driver has received a five-place grid penalty after an additional power unit element was used, reshuffling the order behind the leading group.

Pierre Gasly will start ninth for Alpine, sharing the fifth row with Gabriel Bortoleto in the Audi. Liam Lawson follows in 11th for Racing Bulls, with Fernando Alonso alongside him in 12th. Carlos Sainz will line up 13th, while Lance Stroll starts 14th, meaning Aston Martin will have both cars relatively high up the order in what represents one of their strongest combined grid positions of the season.

Nico Hulkenberg will line up 15th in the second Audi, ahead of Haas driver Oliver Bearman in 16th. Esteban Ocon starts 17th in the other Haas, with Alexander Albon 18th for Williams. Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will occupy the next two positions, with the Cadillac drivers starting 19th and 20th respectively.

Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad complete the 22-car grid in 21st and 22nd. Colapinto carries a five-place penalty for causing a collision at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as well as a further 10-place grid drop for the use of an additional power unit element. Lindblad, meanwhile, has been handed a 30-place grid penalty after additional power unit elements were used, leaving the Racing Bulls driver at the very back of the grid.