Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," states Isack 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, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
