Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," 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 run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot 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.