Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage

Preamble

The author is about to begin to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Formation Lap Time

The starting lap has started.

Track Information

We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.

Final Moments

The last moments is underway.

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 interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. 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 the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.