Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
