Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
