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

Preamble

Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Warm-Up Lap Time

The warm-up lap is underway.

Track Information

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The final countdown has begun.

Driver Situation

One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.

The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.