Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in 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.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
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 until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
