Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.