Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming 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 the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
