Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author is arriving soon to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
