Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
Philip is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
