Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
