Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
