Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
The author will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. 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 the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
