Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
