Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
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 mess with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.