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

Preamble

Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Current Events

Starting Lap Time

The starting lap has started.

Circuit Details

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

Final Moments

The last moments has begun.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.

The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Past Performance

Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. 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, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.

The driver wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.