Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.