Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
Philip will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.