Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
The author is arriving soon to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
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 challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead 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
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
