Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
