Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final 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 as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
