Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage 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 will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
