Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Philip is about to begin to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles 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-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team 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 during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
