Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates

Preamble

Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Live Feed

Starting Lap Time

The starting lap is underway.

Circuit Details

There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.

Countdown

The final countdown is on.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.

Grid Details

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

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

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.

The driver claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.