Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
The author is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 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 did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
