Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance 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.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. 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 available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
