Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
