Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
