Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance 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 pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack 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 forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
