Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
