Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
