Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates

Opening Notes

Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Live Feed

Formation Lap Time

The warm-up lap has started.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The final countdown is underway.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more 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 duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

"We take the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.