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

Opening Notes

Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap is underway.

Track Information

We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator points out.

Final Moments

The last moments is underway.

Driver Situation

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

Interview Updates

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

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

Starting Positions

There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was 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 failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

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

Team Standings

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Previous Results

Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

The driver wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.