Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
The author is about to begin to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated 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.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.