Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
