Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go until the sprint 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. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
