Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
The author is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after PĂ©rez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
