Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Introduction
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until 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 own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
