Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The formation lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. 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 available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
