Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
