Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
