Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
