Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is arriving soon to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
