Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.