Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Philip is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team 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 during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place 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 the short race.
