Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states 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 the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
