Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
