Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
