Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Introduction
The author will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
