Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author is arriving soon to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
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 the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
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 future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
