Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
