Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Isack 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 constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
