Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Introduction
Philip is arriving soon to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
