Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
Philip is about to begin to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start 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.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.