Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
