F1 Qatar GP Live Commentary and Updates - Sprint qualifying

Right then, everyone take a breath while you can because it's a short break before SQ2. 

Norris's pace looks pretty ominous, can he keep it up?

There was seven-tenths between Perez and Verstappen, but it wouldn't have been helped by Leclerc trying to make a move into Turn 1.

Verstappen's up to fourth and Hamilton fifth.

Ocon can't get another lap in, Tsunoda couldn't improve and ends 17th, with Zhou and Colapinto on the final row. 

But more pain for Perez.

Bottas goes seventh for Sauber and Lawson 14th - that's Perez on the bubble.

He's OUT. Albon goes 15th and knocks the Red Bull driver out.

Ocon is the first to try and secure survival - he goes 10th as Stroll goes sixth.

Norris goes even faster - a 1m21.356s!

There is a huge queue at the end of the lap as the drivers try to gain around seven seconds of space to the car ahead to ensure no aerodynamic loss is given from dirty air.

Norris is back to the top on a 1m22 dead, Russell setting an identical time to his compatriot.

Stroll, Alonso, Zhou, Hulkenberg and Colapinto are those at risk of elimination.

Less than three minutes to go and this could all change.

Piastri climbs out of the bottom five, something Hamilton will attempt next across the line - he does get to seventh.

Verstappen is back up to third as Gasly goes fourth in the Alpine.

Perez is now 18th and not improving by that much on his next lap - that's ninth, still a second off the best effort and half a second off Verstappen.

Leclerc and Sainz make it a Ferrari 1-2 on their second attempts, some half a second up on Norris. 

Last across the line could be key here.

That was the fastest final sector for Russell as team-mate Hamilton goes only 10th.

But the evolution of the track and tyres is highlighted as Magnussen goes within two-tenths of Norris for third.

Perez is only 12th, failing to get into the 1m23s.

Match that with Norris who pumps in a 1m22.785s to really lay down the gauntlet for the rest of the field.

Piastri is seven-tenths down in seventh as Russell goes second.

Verstappen goes second on his first lap, less than a tenth behind the Ferrari.

Albon and Colapinto will need to find pace from their opening efforts if Williams is to get to SQ2 - their slowest and third slowest as it stands.

That's bettered by Sainz and Bottas - the Sauber ahead of the Spaniard!

A great lap from the Finn, though not good enough to stay P1 as Leclerc goes top.

Magnussen sets the benchmark with a 1m23.750s, which is better than Stroll and Zhou.

With two minutes gone there are still eight cars in the pits, with Perez making it onto the circuit.

Now the times will start to be set...

Some late drama in the pitlane...

Right then, attention to sprint qualifying.

If you can't remember how this works, it's essentially a shortened version of the traditional qualifying format, albeit with medium tyres mandated for the opening two segments.

There was also team principal reaction to Cadillac's acceptance into F1 for 2026, with Williams boss James Vowles leading the conversation.

Before turning to sprint qualifying, there was some news that dropped between sessions.

First up, Qatar buying into the Audi F1 project. Here's why...

Red Bull was way off the pace with neither Max Verstappen nor Sergio Perez breaching the top 10.

Here's a full rundown of FP1...

In the hour of running earlier, it was Charles Leclerc who set the fastest time, ahead of McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

That could set up a tantalising battle as both teams race to become constructors' champions for the first time in over a decade.

Hello and welcome back to live coverage of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend.

The sole practice session has been and gone, now it's time to set the grid for tomorrow's sprint race. Who will come out on top?