Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage

Introduction

Philip will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Current Events

Starting Lap Time

The warm-up lap has started.

Track Information

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator reminds us.

Final Moments

The countdown is underway.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.

The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.