Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
The author is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance 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 starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage 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 Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
