Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

Pirelli is to be awarded Formula 1's next tyre contract but it is likely to be the Italian company's last, BBC Sport has learned.

F1's tyre supplier since 2011, Pirelli fended off competition from Japan's Bridgestone for the new deal.

The contract runs from 2025-27, with an option for a further year in 2028.

Bridgestone was approved as a potential supplier by governing body the FIA but commercial discussions saw F1 chairman Stefano Domenicali choose Pirelli.

The deal is set to be announced in the days after this weekend's Qatar race.

Spokespeople for Pirelli and F1 declined to comment.

Read the full story here

Here we go then. The 2023 title fight could be wrapped up on a Saturday if all things go to plan for Max Verstappen and Red Bull.

We go 19-laps of sprint racing at 18:30 BST.

Live commentary will be uninterrupted at the top of this page using the audio icon but you can also listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sounds app from 18:45 BST.

Rosanna Tennant, Harry Benjamin and Alex Brundle are warming up their vocal chords as we speak.

Some breaking news to bring that landed during the break...

Max Verstappen only needs three points from the sprint race to join the elite list of three-time Formula 1 world champions.

The Dutchman starts third on the grid behind the two McLarens, so will three be Verstappen's lucky number in Qatar?

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen could qualify only third for the sprint race in which he could clinch a third world title as McLaren's Oscar Piastri took pole.

The Australian rookie, demoted from fourth place in Qatar Grand Prix qualifying on Friday, beat team-mate Lando Norris by 0.082 seconds.

Verstappen was 0.192secs off the pace, and ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fifth but had his time deleted.

The Spanish two-time champion will now start the sprint race ninth - set for 18:30 BST.

Lewis Hamilton was only 12th after being knocked out in the second session.

Verstappen's relatively lowly grid position for the race should have little effect on his ability to clinch the championship.

To do so, he needs only to ensure he does not lose six or more points to team-mate Sergio Perez, who starts the sprint eighth.

Read the full report here

Image source, Getty Images

The front row will be a bright shade of papaya for today's 19-lap sprint race.

Max Verstappen is starting in third place but that's OK, as the Dutchman only needs three points to be crowned the F1 champion for a third consecutive season.

Let's take a break, get our heads around the track limits chaos and then regroup at 18:00 BST for the some shorter racing and a potential title party.

See you shortly.

Image source, Getty Images

McLaren's Oscar Piastri starts on pole for the first time in his Formula 1 career for the sprint race later, he said: "Very very happy! It was a pretty good lap, I saw Lando on the big screen make a mistake on the last corner so I don't know what his lap was looking like so no, I'm very very happy."

On the latest track changes, he added: "It changed it a bit, also because it's a painted kerb it's impossible to know where it is, we can't see it, so it makes things a bit more difficult but obviously it's the same for everyone so very pleased. I struggled quite a bit in the first two parts of qualifying but then got my act together a bit more for the last one, so very happy and great work from the team."

On potentially sealing the victory in the sprint, he said: "We will see, obviously Max is only starting third so he's not a million miles away but we will try our best. A bit of a question mark on tyres but we will try our best and see what we will pull off."

Jeremiah Kariuki: McLaren would only pray they started with such performance at the beginning of the season! They are a revelation. P1 and P2 for the Sprint Race.

Andrew Priestley: Oscar Piastri has a big, big F1 future.

Rachel T: OSCAR PIASTRI!!! WOW!!!!!

11. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

12. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

13. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)

14. Liam Lawson (Alpha Tauri)

15. Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)

16. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

17. Alex Albon (Williams)

18. Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri)

19. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

20. Logan Sargeant (Williams)

"I might just give the FIA five minutes to make sure I'm on pole," jokes sprint polesitter Oscar Piastri.

The McLaren driver is OK this time, but Fernando Alonso had his lap time deleted late on and drops to ninth place.

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

2. Lando Norris (McLaren)

3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

4. George Russell (Mercedes)

5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

7. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)

8. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

10. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

"Whooooo nice, very very very nice thank you. That was unexpected."

"I like the number one board. It's got a nice ring to it," says Oscar Piastri. He then greets the crowd with an enthusiastic shake of the fist.

It's between the two McLarens now. Which one will make it to the sprint pole? Lando has it now but here comes Oscar... and he does it! Norris runs wide and can't beat his rookie team-mate!

George Russell moves up to third spot as more drivers have their lap time deleted. The Mercedes man is then pushed down to fourth as Max Verstappen can only go third quickest.

Alex Brundle
British racing driver and broadcaster on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Critically they've not got time now to box and put another set of tyres on, this is it!

So, with those times being wiped for Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, the top three at the moment are Lando Norris on pole, Oscar Piastri second and Sergio Perez in third.

Turn 13 next and Charles Leclerc is informed of his penalty. "Oh, come on!" the Monegasque driver complains to his Ferrari pit wall.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

Track limits for Max Verstappen at Turn Five, I think that's the first major track limits disgruntlement for Max Verstappen.

And... Charles Leclerc gets his time scrubbed as well. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, keep their markers and go one-two on the time sheets.