Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage

Preamble

Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap is underway.

Circuit Details

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.

Countdown

The final countdown has begun.

Driver Situation

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result 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 tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship 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 help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

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 sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.

Max Verstappen wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.