Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Introduction
Philip is about to begin to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
