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

Introduction

Our correspondent is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Formation Lap Time

The starting lap is underway.

Circuit Details

There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.

Countdown

The last moments has begun.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.

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 Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.

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

Driver Comments

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

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – 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 to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview 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 in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.