🔗 Share this article Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage Introduction Philip is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Live Feed Starting Lap Period The warm-up lap is underway. Track Information There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out. Countdown The countdown is underway. Racer Positions An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: 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: the analyst is with Mercedes. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Starting Positions There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We'll use the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Past Performance Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season. Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.