Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage

Introduction

The author will be here shortly to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap is underway.

Track Information

There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft 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. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.

Starting Positions

There are only 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 did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.

The driver wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.