Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
