Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
