Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates

Opening Notes

Philip is arriving soon to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Current Events

Warm-Up Lap Time

The warm-up lap has started.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out.

Final Moments

The countdown is underway.

Driver Situation

One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Racer Statements

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

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Past Performance

Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.