Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is arriving soon to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship 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 the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
