Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage

Opening Notes

Our correspondent is about to begin to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Period

The warm-up lap is underway.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft informs us.

Final Moments

The final countdown is on.

Driver Situation

One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.

Grid Details

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

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 Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.

The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.