Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
