Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip is about to begin to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari 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 duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.