Lewis Hamilton Calls Sepang Qualifying His Best of 2026 Season
Written with artificial intelligence.
Lewis Hamilton expressed that his lap during qualifying at Sepang was the best of his 2026 Formula 1 season, securing a front-row start for the Bahrain Grand Prix. He clocked a time of 1m35.428s, placing him 0.298s behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen.
Hamilton's Impressive Qualifying Performance
Lewis Hamilton has described his qualifying lap at Sepang as the standout performance of his 2026 Formula 1 season. His time of 1m35.428s earned him a second-place start alongside Max Verstappen, who secured pole position. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar completed the top three.
Hamilton, who last started from the front row in July at the Hungarian Grand Prix, expressed surprise at his performance in Malaysia. After a challenging season, he noted the hard work put in by the team to optimize the car's setup.
> "We've really been working so hard to progress, to dial in this car, and it's been a massive challenge," Hamilton told Sky Sports. "Finding that balance with everything... all these different things, tyre temperatures, so many elements have to come together."
Despite the success in qualifying, Hamilton acknowledged uncertainties about race pace. He pointed out Ferrari's struggles with straight-line speed compared to competitors like Red Bull and McLaren, highlighting the need for careful tire management during the race due to high degradation levels on the track.
Hamilton will aim to convert this qualifying performance into a podium finish, hoping to break a six-race drought since his last podium in Silverstone. As he prepares for the race, he emphasized a focus on running their own race strategy rather than overextending to keep up with rivals.