Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, 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 the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.