Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Philip is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
