Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Philip will be here shortly to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco 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. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the short 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 just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
