Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage

Introduction

Philip is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap has begun.

Track Information

We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.

Final Moments

The countdown is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.

Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.