Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip is about to begin to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
