Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says 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 the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
