Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, 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 Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
