Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, 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 start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
