Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
The author will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
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, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
