Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
