Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. 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.
