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

Opening Notes

Philip will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Current Events

Formation Lap Time

The warm-up lap is underway.

Track Information

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.

Countdown

The last moments is on.

Driver Situation

One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.

The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.