Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage

Opening Notes

The author is arriving soon to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Current Events

Warm-Up Lap Time

The warm-up lap has started.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.

Final Moments

The countdown is on.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

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

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Racer Statements

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.

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