Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
The author is arriving soon to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage 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 Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
