Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again 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 Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
