F1 Qatar GP Live Commentary and Updates - Sprint race
Minute-by-minute updates for the sprint race for the 2024 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix
Lando Norris will start the final sprint race of the F1 season from pole position ahead of George Russell and team-mate Oscar Piastri.
Max Verstappen will line-up in sixth after securing his fourth consecutive world title last time out. Sergio Perez and Franco Colapinto, both out in Q1, will start from the pitlane after making changes.
The sprint race gets under way at 14:00GMT.
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Russell indicates his plan to Norris as they pull away from the gird, bolting from his slot and moving to the front of the pack.
As he must, Russell hands back the place - the time for racing not quite being here yet.
The formation lap is go. In around two minutes, 19 laps of racing will be under way!
But now, the grid is clear and we're ready for the formation lap.
In this race last year, Verstappen secured his third consecutive world title. With his fourth already in the bag, will he take any risks from sixth on the grid?
As ever, avoiding any kind of damage in the sprint race is crucial given that qualifying for the grand prix takes place just a couple of hours after the chequered flag falls.
Here we go. The final countdown is here.
Looking at the grid then, Norris and Russell sit on the front row with Piastri and Sainz behind. Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton, Gasly, Hulkenberg and Lawson complete the top 10.
The inky black of night is firmly beginning to set in now. The temperatures are falling and the clock is about to dip to 10 minutes to go before lights out.
“Most cars have almost all cooling gills covered up, but not the McLaren. That will come at a drag cost”
What's going on here, we wonder?
Returning to Hamilton's apparent loss of his mojo, Stuart Codling took a look back at when this has happened previously to some of the sport's all-time greats.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-f1-greats-who-lost-their-mojo/10677810/
Given the significant amount of runoff, it may surprise you that 10 of the 19 laps in last year's sprint were spent behind the safety car. Fingers crossed that history does not repeat itself!
“Unclear if this jet was massively early or lost on its way to Qatar’s huge hub about 25 miles to the track’s south!”
A big talking point following sprint qualifying yesterday was how Lewis Hamilton conceded he is simply not fast anymore.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/hamilton-im-definitely-not-fast-anymore/10677729/
The pitlane is now open and cars are headed to the grid. Only half an hour to go before lights out.
“It’s cool enough to make me wish I hadn’t left my jacket in the media centre, but not cold enough the cars still won’t need dry ice cooling”
Lando Norris climbs in ahead of the final sprint race of the season.
“On the grid now and it is very, very windy. A headwind to Turn 1, which will aid overtaking by boosting the slipstream effect”
Getting the parish notices out of the way early, following disappointing SQ1 exits on Friday, Colapinto and Perez have both made changes to their cars and will start from the pitlane.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/perez-and-colapinto-to-start-qatar-sprint-from-pit-lane/10677857/
The drivers' championship battle may be decided, but the fight for second and to take the constructors' crown remain in full swing.
Good afternoon and welcome to Losail for the sprint race of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend.
By: Autosport Staff
