Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
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 main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
