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

Introduction

Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Circuit Details

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us.

Final Moments

The last moments has begun.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.

Grid Details

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.

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

Driver Comments

"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Previous Results

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.

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