Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Philip is arriving soon to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: 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 consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning 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 dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
