Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Philip is arriving soon to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race begins. 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 available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
