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

Introduction

Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Time

The warm-up lap is underway.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.

Final Moments

The last moments is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 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 the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted 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 doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.