Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: The team 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 this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
