Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely 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 jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
