Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Introduction
The author is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, 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. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
