Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville 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
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
