Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Philip is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes 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 take the experience for tomorrow," 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 constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
