Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
