Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
