Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles 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 main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
