Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
