Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles 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 position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
