Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: 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 during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then â as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
