Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
