Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
The author is about to begin to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
