Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.