Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
The author is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about 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 this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
