Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates

Opening Notes

Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Current Events

Formation Lap Time

The starting lap is underway.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out.

Countdown

The final countdown is on.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: 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 speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.

Grid Details

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 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. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

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 learning for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.

Team Standings

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.