Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates

Introduction

Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Current Events

Warm-Up Lap Period

The starting lap has started.

Track Information

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

Countdown

The last moments is on.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Grid Details

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.

The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Racer Statements

"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.