Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: 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. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, 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 winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
