Verstappen takes pole in Sepang - Mercedes at a loss despite update

Completely sweaty and with a somewhat perplexed expression, World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was looking for lost time. Not only did the 20-year-old have no chance in the fight for pole position in Formula 1's comeback to Malaysia, despite the large update package for the Silver Arrow, and not only against the resurgent Max Verstappen. "We're a bit at a loss at the moment," said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff: "Incredibly disappointing."

Especially since Baku winner George Russell only made it to eighth place, with the Briton in second place, 66 points behind Antonelli. After all, both Mercedes drivers will benefit from the engine penalty for Isack Hadjar. Verstappen's teammate came third in qualifying, but will be moved five positions back on the starting grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia this Sunday (9 a.m. CET/Sky). Second in the knockout round was record world champion Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari.

Verstappen was in a class of his own, just like in the Flying Dutchman's best days. "Fantastic. Now it's finally worked," he said after the 49th pole of his career: "I'm happy for today, tomorrow I'll try to win."

Mercedes' problems became apparent when they returned to the sauna in Sepang. It became clear just as quickly that Verstappen was the main force to be reckoned with. In 2017 he won the last Formula 1 race to date in Malaysia; it was only his second victory in the premier class of motorsport.

He has been waiting for number 72 since the final last year. Verstappen emphasized that he wanted to win at least one race this season. Four days after his 29th birthday on Wednesday, it could happen.

In the first period, Verstappen also raced to first place. After that it was over for Nico Hülkenberg. Only 17th place for the German Audi driver. After a driving error in the last corner, the Rhineland native, who scored his first Formula 1 point in Sepang in 2010, radioed to the pits: “Sorry, boys.” Teammate Gabriel Bortoleto progressed confidently. “I wanted a little too much,” said Hülkenberg on Sky. “Everything is lost.”

Despite the departure chaos on the first few days, the fans came back in droves to the course around 60 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur. At temperatures of over 30 degrees and extremely high humidity, they sometimes waited for hours in never-ending queues for shuttle buses.

Before the next return journey, they had to fight for the best starting positions on the track for the race known as the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Grand Prix in April had to be canceled because of the Iran war. Unlike the race in Saudi Arabia, which was also canceled, the Bahrain round was quickly moved to Malaysia.

Verstappen was particularly happy to drive, as he was also the fastest in the second period. Antonelli's first time was canceled - he had left the track. After the botched qualification in Baku, the next stress test for the young Italian.

“If you want to become world champion, you have to be strong enough in your head to cope with such situations,” emphasized Wolff before the new mistake. Antonelli moved into the final knockout round in second place, but then only had one set of the soft and therefore fastest tires left.

But he had no chance against Verstappen anyway, especially not in a Mercedes, where the upgrade initially backfired. Strengthened again with a Red Bull that he can fully exploit, Verstappen burned the next best time into the almost 60 degree hot asphalt. Hamilton came closest, having taken the best starting position in 2017.