Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is arriving soon to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
