Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Philip is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship 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 F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.