Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
