Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Philip is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
