Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap is underway.
Circuit Details
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 Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
