Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping 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.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the short 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 own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
