Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
