Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Philip is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration 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 doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
