Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Introduction
The author will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.