Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates

Preamble

Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Live Feed

Warm-Up Lap Time

The starting lap has started.

Track Information

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.

Final Moments

The final countdown is underway.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.