Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
The author is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
