Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
