Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
