Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up 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 the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
