Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates

Opening Notes

Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Warm-Up Lap Period

The warm-up lap has begun.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft points out.

Countdown

The countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.

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

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead 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 won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.