Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage

Preamble

Philip will be here shortly to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Warm-Up Lap Time

The formation lap has started.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator reminds us.

Countdown

The countdown is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

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

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.