Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
The author will be here shortly to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
