Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates

Opening Notes

Philip will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Time

The starting lap is underway.

Track Information

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

Countdown

The last moments has begun.

Driver Situation

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

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

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.