Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip is arriving soon to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
