Pakistan, Oct. 4 -- Max Verstappen qualified on pole position for the first time this year at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on a rare off day for Mercedes and Formula 1 standings leader Kimi Antonelli.

Verstappen went fastest by 0.298 of a second from Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, with Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar .130 further back in third.

It was an "incredible result for us looking at the season," Verstappen said. "I felt good, felt confident and I hope we can show that again tomorrow."

Verstappen won the last time F1 raced at the Sepang circuit back in 2017. His pole position is the first this year for a car powered by a non-Mercedes engine.

Antonelli qualified only fourth, with his Mercedes teammate and closest ti...