Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. 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 Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
