Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin'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," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
