Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. 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 last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
