Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Philip is about to begin to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
