Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles 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 main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
