Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
The author is about to begin to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville 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 team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
