Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"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 constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
