Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," 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 team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
