Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage

Opening Notes

The author is arriving soon to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Live Feed

Starting Lap Period

The formation lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator reminds us.

Final Moments

The last moments is on.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.

Interview Updates

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

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Racer Statements

"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.

The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.