Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack 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 dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
