Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
