Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage

Opening Notes

The author is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Warm-Up Lap Time

The starting lap has begun.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.

Final Moments

The last moments is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Racer Statements

"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.

The driver wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.