Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Philip will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.