Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage

Preamble

Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Current Events

Warm-Up Lap Time

The warm-up lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The final countdown has begun.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.

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

Driver Comments

"We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.

The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.