Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. 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 managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
