Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
