Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Philip is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The formation lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
