Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
Philip is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
