Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team 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-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on 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 secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
