Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip is about to begin to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
