Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Philip is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
