Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Introduction
The author is about to begin to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes 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 starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage 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 begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
