Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren 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 Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
