Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage

Introduction

Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Track Information

We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator points out.

Countdown

The countdown is on.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.