Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is arriving soon to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.