F1 Qatar GP Sprint Race & Qualifying: Start Times and How to Watch

Oscar Piastri secured pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race, marking a strong return to form for the McLaren driver. Title rivals Lando Norris qualified third, and Max Verstappen sixth. George Russell will start second for Mercedes.

Why it matters:

This sprint race pole is a significant boost for Piastri, ending a dry spell since the Dutch GP. It also sets up an intriguing battle among the front-runners, particularly with Norris and Verstappen starting further back, promising an exciting and unpredictable sprint race.

The Details:

• Piastri's Pole: Oscar Piastri claimed his first pole of any kind since the Dutch GP, beating Mercedes driver George Russell. This marks a strong recovery for the McLaren driver.
• Norris and Verstappen's Positions: Lando Norris will start third, while Max Verstappen qualified a surprisingly low sixth. This puts both championship contenders in a position where they will need to fight through the field during the sprint race.
• Aston Martin and AlphaTauri Shine: Fernando Alonso impressed with a fourth-place start for Aston Martin. Yuki Tsunoda delivered a standout performance, qualifying fifth and becoming the first Red Bull-affiliated driver to out-qualify Verstappen since the 2024 Azerbaijan GP.
• Hamilton's Struggles Continue: Lewis Hamilton's challenging season at Ferrari continued as he was knocked out in Q1 of sprint qualifying, starting 18th.

By the numbers:

• Sprint Race Start: Saturday, November 29th, at 2 PM GMT / 5 PM local time.
• Grand Prix Qualifying Start: Saturday, November 29th, at 6 PM GMT / 9 PM local time.
• Sprint Race Laps: 19 laps.
• UK Broadcast: Sky Sports F1 will cover all sessions, with sprint race coverage beginning at 1 PM GMT and qualifying build-up at 5:15 PM GMT.
• Highlights: Channel 4 will air a 90-minute highlight package of both the sprint race and grand prix qualifying from 10:05 PM GMT on Saturday, November 29th.
• Radio Coverage: Live commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, with sprint race coverage at 2 PM and grand prix qualifying at 6 PM.

What's next:

With Piastri on pole and key championship contenders starting further down, the Qatar GP sprint race promises to be a thrilling contest. Drivers will be pushing hard to gain positions and secure crucial points, especially with the main Grand Prix qualifying taking place later in the evening, which will set the grid for Sunday's main event.