Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates

Introduction

The author is about to begin to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Formation Lap Time

The formation lap is underway.

Track Information

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out.

Countdown

The final countdown has begun.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari 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 duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

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