Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed 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 begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
