Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing 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.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted 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 doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
