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

Preamble

Our correspondent is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Live Feed

Warm-Up Lap Period

The starting lap is underway.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft points out.

Countdown

The countdown has begun.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.

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 the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.

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

Racer Statements

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

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Past Performance

Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.