Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be 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 Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
