Max Verstappen hails 'pretty incredible' Red Bull surge after scoring season first

Max Verstappen described his first pole position of the season as "pretty incredible" after landing the top spot on the grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

Verstappen was imperious throughout qualifying at the Sepang International Circuit, finishing fastest in all three sessions, with pole secured by three tenths of a second ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, with a lap of one minute 35.130s.

It is the first non-Mercedes-powered pole of the season, and the first for Verstappen and Red Bull since the curtain-closing race in Abu Dhabi last season.

"It's fantastic," said four-time F1 champion Verstappen on his pole. "We've been trying to get pole, sometimes a bit closer than others, but to finally get it from where we started this season is pretty incredible.

"Looking at the season, how it started for us, and the progression that we have made at some tracks, we were kind of close, but now I think this weekend it was very positive for us.

"From FP1, we started quite well, and from then onwards, we've just been trying to improve the car further, and it's incredible. Honestly, I'm very happy to yeah to be on pole here."

As to the possibility of winning the race and ending that additional drought that also goes back to Abu Dhabi, he added: "I'm happy with today, and for sure, I'm going to try to win tomorrow. When you start first, that's the target."

Regarding the challenges he will be facing, he added: "It's very hot, for ourselves, the cars, the brakes, the tyres, so the race is definitely going to be a tough one. You have to manage a lot.

"It's impossible to know at the moment who can do that the best, but at the same time, there is a start where a lot of things can happen, so we just need to be aware, ready, and then we'll see how competitive we are in in the race.

"But so far this weekend, I've felt good, confident, and I hope we can show that again tomorrow."