Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
The author is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
