Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates

Introduction

Our correspondent is about to begin to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Warm-Up Lap Period

The warm-up lap is underway.

Track Information

We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.

Countdown

The last moments is underway.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

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 Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.