Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Philip is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap is underway.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
