Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
The author will be here shortly to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
