Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage

Preamble

Philip is about to begin to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Current Events

Formation Lap Time

The warm-up lap is underway.

Track Information

We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator points out.

Final Moments

The countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

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

Driver Comments

"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.