Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Introduction
The author is arriving soon to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 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. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George 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 did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
