Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
The author will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
