Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage

Opening Notes

Philip is arriving soon to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Current Events

Warm-Up Lap Time

The warm-up lap has started.

Track Information

There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.

Final Moments

The countdown is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.

Grid Details

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.

Team Standings

It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. 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 awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.

The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.