Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Introduction
The author will be here shortly to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari 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 Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
