Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
The author will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
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
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.