Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates

Preamble

Philip is arriving soon to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Track Information

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator informs us.

Countdown

The last moments is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

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

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.

The driver claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.