Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, 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 Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
