Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title after PĂ©rez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
