Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
