Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, 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.
