Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
