Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
