Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
The author is arriving soon to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. 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 the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
