Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Philip is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
