Max Verstappen will start from the front for the first time this season in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
The four-time world champion has been in scintillating form on Formula 1's return to the Sepang International Circuit, which has taken hosting duties from Sakhir for the race due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
An imperious Verstappen topped the timesheets in all three qualifying sessions and was 0.298s faster than his closest rival Lewis Hamilton to secure his first pole position since the season finale in Abu Dhabi last year.
There's been visible improvement in the Red Bull across recent weeks following a difficult start to the year and the new aerodynamic upgrade that was introduced in Azerbaijan has proven timely for the sweeping Sepang circuit.
Hamilton admitted after qualifying that he will "try to hold on" to Verstappen in Sunday's race such is the speed the Dutchman has demonstrated across the weekend so far, and Verstappen believes he's unearthed the perfect balance in his formerly maligned RB22.
"It's been an incredible result for us," Verstappen said. "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.
"We have been adding bits to the car and they have worked. It's simple as that. When they work, you gain lap time, you have a better overall balance in the car.
"So with tyres that are very sensitive to balance, that gives you also more lap time.
"And then on a track probably where it's all very hot and you want a, let's say, stable balance or connected balance, then that's very important. And that's what we have found a little bit more over the last weekends."
Verstappen's team-mate Isack Hadjar was also extremely complimentary of the strides the team had taken with the RB22 since the summer and the Frenchman rewarded the team's progress by qualifying third, although he will start from eighth due to a five-place grid penalty.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will instead start from third, and yet the Italian was left puzzled by a lack of pace despite Mercedes bringing a major upgrade with them to Kuala Lumpur.
Fortunately for Antonelli, his main championship rival and team-mate George Russell was a further two-and-a-half tenths off his fastest time. Sandwiched between the two Mercedes is Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who were separated by just 0.005s in their fastest runs.
Verstappen is the comprehensive favourite to prevail at Sepang in the betting odds, with Antonelli and Hamilton the only other two drivers available at single figures.
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia odds
(Odds will display when markets are available).
