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

Introduction

Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Time

The starting lap has started.

Track Information

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.

Final Moments

The last moments is on.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.

Starting Positions

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was 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 main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.