Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
