Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is about to begin to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
