Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
