Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. 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 Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
