Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying 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 make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
