Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
