Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Philip is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
