Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
The author is about to begin to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
