Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: 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 make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
