Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming 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 the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until 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 itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.