Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with 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 Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
