Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
