Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
