Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
