Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
