Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
