Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
