Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
