Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
One point 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 main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
