Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
