Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. 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, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up 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 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
