Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 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 consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
