Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Philip is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in 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's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team 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 starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
