Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
