Image source, Getty Images

The points on offer today are also crucial for the midfield battle. Aston Martin have slipped to eighth in the constructors' championship, one point behind seventh-placed Haas, but Fernando Alonso's excellent fourth in qualifying means they can go back above the American-based team if the Spaniard stays in the top eight.

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

2. George Russell (Mercedes)

3. Lando Norris (McLaren)

4. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

5. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)

6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

8. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

Ian Fergusson
BBC weather forecaster

Air temperature is 25.5C and the track 32.2C. Humidity is 47%.

Wind is from the north-north-west with gusts to 18mph in the past hour.

Dry and fine; FIA official risk of rain is 0%.

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton cut a dejected figure once again after his latest qualifying eliminattion, this time in SQ1 for the Qatar sprint. The seven-time world champion was set to start 18th on the grid (now it's the pit lane), a long way off any of the points places, and said his Ferrari wouldn't go any quicker.

The latest disappointment comes a week after he qualified P20 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix and then saying he wasn't looking forward to next season. However, he did clarify on Thursday those comments were made in the "heat of frustration".

His post-qualifying interview with Sky Sports yesterday was a short one. Asked if there were any positives for today's sprint, he smiled and answered: "The weather's nice".

Jennie Gow
F1 pit-lane reporter at Lusail Circuit

There's a lot of tension and expectation this weekend, the championship won't be decided today.

It could be decided this weekend and everyone is biting their nails.

Image source, Getty Images

The Red Bull was "bouncing like an idiot" during Max Verstappen's Friday running, leaving the Dutchman frustrated over the radio - and out-qualified by team-mate Yuki Tsunoda for the first time this season.

Tsunoda, whose future is yet to be decided for the 2026 campaign, was 0.009 seconds quicker than defending champion Verstappen, placing him fifth on the sprint grid, one place higher than the Dutchman.

"With this balance, in the sprint it will not be a lot of fun," said Verstappen, who was last out-qualified by a team-mate at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

"It will be more about trying to survive and then make some changes going into qualifying."

BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

A warm welcome to Jennie Gow who is joining Harry Benjamin, former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley and BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson for the rest of the weekend.

Live Sports Extra commentary is up and running, so click the 'listen live' tab at the top of the page to tune in.

Image source, Getty Images

A golden ticket to championship glory is within touching distance for Lando Norris but his chances of moving up the order in the 100km sprint and challenging for the full eight points are slim.

"It's impossible to overtake, so I think I am probably going to finish P3 but if I can at least get George off the line, that's probably the most I can hope for," the Briton said after qualifying in third place.

So, can Norris pick off Russell out the gate and at least climb to second spot? It can be done, as his team-mate Oscar Piastri managed to execute the exact same move during last year's Qatar sprint.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Oscar Piastri had a smooth qualifying for the sprint, fastest on both his flying laps.

Lando Norris, by contrast, damaged his floor with an off during the second session, but despite that was just hundredths behind Piastri on his first lap in the final session.

He then had his last lap compromised by running behind Williams' Alex Albon and was already off the pace before running wide out of the final corner, before an off-track moment out of the final corner on his second lap, and was pipped by George Russell.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a while since we have seen a thumbs up from Oscar Piastri but the Australian was all smiles after securing pole position ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell for the last sprint race of the year.

Piastri has been MIA from the podium since his third place at Monza in September and his 34-point lead over team-mate Lando Norris following his win at the Dutch Grand Prix in August has become a 24-point catch-up mission in the final stretch of the season.

"It's nice to be back," said the Australian, who has won the Qatar sprint twice. "The car has felt good all day. We made some good adjustments into qualifying. The pace was there all day."

Yes he can. But not until Sunday.

There are a maximum of 58 points available in the final two grands prix, 33 of them in Doha.

For Lando Norris to be crowned world champion for the first time, he would need to score two more points than Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen over the course of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend.

Image source, BBC Sport

This is how the drivers' championship looks before Saturday's 100km sprint race.

Lando Norris is sitting 24 points clear of Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen with two grands prix weekends remaining. The Las Vegas Grand Prix was a blow for Norris - he would've been 30 points ahead of Piastri and 42 free of Verstappen had it not been for the double disqualification - but he is still in a position to claim his maiden F1 title this weekend in Qatar.

If the trio finish in the same places today then Norris' lead would be 22 points over Piastri and 27 points over third-placed Verstappen.

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Hello, folks. This is the first opportunity for our three title contenders to score vital points this weekend in today's 19-lap sprint event. Championship leader Lando Norris is starting third on the grid, with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri taking pole position in yesterday's qualifying session.

Lights out for the final sprint race of the year is at 14:00 GMT.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, level on points with Australian Piastri after his Las Vegas win and McLaren's disqualification, struggled with a variety of issues on Friday and will line up in sixth place.

Image source, Getty Images

How many cars want to start this sprint from the pit lane? Most of the SQ1 knockouts.

Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, Lewis Hamilton, who had another wretched day in his Ferrari, plus Aston Martin's Lance Stroll have all made set-up changes under parc ferme conditions so it's to the pit lane they go.

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