Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
