What happened: Less than a month after qualifying sixth at Monza and ripping Red Bull's car as "made of paper," Max Verstappen put the team on pole for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Verstappen and team principal Laurent Mekies have said the underlying car-degradation problem still cannot be fully resolved in 2026, making the jump to P1 notable even without a full fix.

Why it matters: The pole was Verstappen's first of 2026 and a needed step for a car that had looked fragile over race distance. It also came a day after Verstappen signed to stay with Red Bull, giving the team a timely result before lights out at Sepang.

What to watch: Sunday's race will show whether Red Bull's one-lap gain holds over a full stint if degradation returns. The start should also decide whether Verstappen can turn a rare 2026 pole into a win.