Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
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 Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
