Report: A mixed qualifying in Malaysia
Carlos Sainz qualified P13 with Alex Albon in P20 after Saturday at the Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Published
03 OCT 2026
Est. reading time
2 min
Atlassian Williams F1 Team will look to push forward from P13 and P18 on Sunday after a mixed qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
With ambient temperatures at 32.8°C, and the track registering 57.7°C, keeping the soft compound alive around the high-degradation Sepang International Circuit was always going to be a challenge, making it a true one-lap effort.
Both cars headed out together on fresh softs at the start of Q1. Carlos opened with a 1:38.102 and Alex with a 1:38.848. After a quick turnaround, the pair returned on a new set for their final runs, with eight of the top nine staying in the garage.
Carlos improved to a 1:37.651 to progress in P13. Alex found time on his last attempt, but a lock-up at turn 14 limited him to a 1:38.600 and P20.
Alex will start P18 after Arvid Lindblad takes a grid penalty for a new power unit element outside his allocation, and Franco Colapinto takes the same penalty plus one carried over from his collision in Baku.
Carlos began Q2 on the softs he had used in Q1 and set a 1:38.880, before being called to the weighbridge on his way back to the garage. He took a fresh set for his final attempt and lapped in 1:37.527, his quickest time of the session, leaving him P13 and 0.713s off a place in Q3.
Full reaction to follow.
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