Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint 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 itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
