Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
