Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Introduction
The author is about to begin to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, 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. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
