Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day ā as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.