Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Philip is about to begin to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The formation lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
