Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal 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 going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.