Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
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 lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
