Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage

Introduction

Philip is about to begin to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Live Feed

Warm-Up Lap Time

The formation lap has begun.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.

Countdown

The final countdown is on.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion 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 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

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

Racer Statements

"We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.