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McLaren analyzes Red Bull's strength after Verstappen secures pole in Malaysia

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 3, 2026, 12:33 PM

Last updated Oct 3, 2026

McLaren analyzes Red Bull's strength after Verstappen secures pole in Malaysia

Summary

Max Verstappen earned his first pole position of the season during qualifying at Sepang, leading McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who qualified sixth and seventh, respectively. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella noted that Red Bull's RB22 has the strongest straight-line speed, while Ferrari showed superior cornering performance. The challenging conditions at Sepang have complicated the competitive, with significant upgrades tested by Mercedes. Stella expressed optimism about McLaren's pace compared to Mercedes, suggesting the team is making progress amid a complex development.

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Latest Updates

•Verstappen claims pole position at Sepang for the first time this season.
•Norris and Piastri qualify sixth and seventh, behind Verstappen.
•Stella highlights Red Bull's straight-line speed advantage in Malaysia.
•Mercedes faces challenges with new upgrades on the rough Sepang surface.
•Qualifying results may influence race strategies for tomorrow.

Latest Updates

12:33 PMYahoo Sports — McLaren points to main RB22 strength that stood out after Verstappen pole

What they're saying

"
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella analysed the shift in the competitive order this weekend in Malaysia, praising Red Bull and highlighting how the RB22 has emerged as the strongest car in terms of straight-line speed. It was far from an ideal day for McLaren, with Norris and Piastri qualifying only sixth and seventh respectively, both finishing six tenths adrift of pole-sitter Max Verstappen, who secured his first pole position of the season at Sepang.
— Yahoo Sports

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