Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin'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 the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
