Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
Philip is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
