Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
