Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then โ as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins the championship following Pรฉrez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
