Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates

Opening Notes

The author is about to begin to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Period

The warm-up lap has begun.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The final countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.

Grid Details

Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Previous Results

Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short 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. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.