Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip is arriving soon to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
