Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage

Opening Notes

The author will be here shortly to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Starting Lap Time

The starting lap has started.

Track Information

There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The countdown is underway.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.

Grid Details

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. 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 pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.

Team Standings

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.