Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates

Opening Notes

Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Current Events

Warm-Up Lap Time

The starting lap has started.

Track Information

We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.

Countdown

The countdown has begun.

Driver Situation

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.

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

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.