Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
