Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates

Opening Notes

Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Warm-Up Lap Period

The starting lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The last moments has begun.

Driver Situation

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

Max Verstappen wins the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.