Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
