Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap is underway.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
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. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
