Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then β as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship after PΓ©rez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
