Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage

Introduction

The author is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Live Feed

Warm-Up Lap Period

The starting lap is underway.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The countdown is on.

Driver Situation

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Grid Details

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.