Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place here was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
