🔗 Share this article Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage Preamble Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Live Feed Warm-Up Lap Period The starting lap has begun. Track Information There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us. Countdown The last moments has begun. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey 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 Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup 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. Driver Comments "We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago. Max Verstappen wins the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.