George Russell is 2.1 seconds behind race leader Oscar Piastri but the Australian driver is banking quick laps in his McLaren. This will be eight points in the bag for Piastri's title hopes, which have taken a huge blow in the final third of the season.

Image source, Getty Images

Lance Stroll is heading into the pits and Aston Martin make a switch to the soft tyre, just to give them a run out, as the Canadian is way out of the points.

Yuki Tsunoda is still in fifth place but a few track limit warnings, the Japanese driver has now been handed a five-second time penalty.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Charles Leclerc was leading Liam Lawson and he went off and Lawson went off with him and passed him while he was off the track.

There was no way Lawson was ever going to keep that position.

Fernando Alonso has slipped further down the order, although he is still in the points, as Kimi Antonelli with DRS makes an easy overtake on the 44-year-old Aston Martin driver.

Liam Lawson was told by his Racing Bulls team to give the position back to Charles Leclerc, so now the New Zealander is back in 14th place. Leclerc has been sliding all over the circuit on what has been another frustrating day for Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc is having a nightmare sprint race in Qatar. He's lost places at the start, has tussled with the Haas of Oliver Bearman and now the Monegasque driver is scrapping wth the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson for 13th place.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The circuit is a punishing one, if you do run wide it will rip bits off your car. These kerbs are quite heavily serrated that if you dip over the gravel, it's a violent journey through some of those gravel traps.

Bits flying off the car are a consequence of the smallest possible mistake.

The gap for Oscar Piastri to George Russell is two seconds as another lap flies by in this final sprint event of the season. The Australian is on for his first podiu since Monza in September.

"I'm constantly jumping, not only bouncing."

Max Verstappen is now highlighting bouncing and jumping from his Red Bull. The Dutchman is still in fourth place but his initial threat to Lando Norris in third has faded slightly. Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, is clocking fastest laps in the lead and is looking good for the full eight-point prize.

Outside of the points places and a DRS train is causing frustrations for the midfield drivers. Carlos Sainz is in the final points spot but a piece of his car has just gone flying onto the track.

Image source, Getty Images

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

This is a circuit that bites you if you get it wrong, a small mistake can really cost you.

The Red Bull team radio is crackling, so Max Verstappen and his engineer haven't got crystal clear communication. Oscar Piastri is looking in control out in front, on for his third consecurive Qatar sprint victory.

Every point counts this weekend and those two places gained for Max Verstappen will be crucial for his title ambitions. The Dutchman is gaining on championship leader Lando Norris, who has dropped back slightly on second-placed George Russell.

Jennie Gow
F1 pit-lane reporter at Lusail Circuit

Let's hope that Max Verstappen isn't able to perform the impossible because this year he seems to be able to do everything that is impossible, including closing that gap to Lando Norris and equalling Oscar Piastri in the standings.

The start replay shows Max Verstappen weaving his way through the pack to jump up to fourth place from his qualifying position of sixth. Oscar Piastri made a clean getaway and is now 1.2 seconds clear of the Mercedes of George Russell.