Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Introduction
Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver 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 interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
