Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
The author is about to begin to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
