Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
