Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last 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. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
