Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
