Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
The author is arriving soon to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title following PĂ©rez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
