Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage

Preamble

Philip will be here shortly to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Starting Lap Period

The formation lap is underway.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.

Countdown

The final countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. The team have as a result 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 Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.

The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.