Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
