Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
