Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates

Opening Notes

Philip is arriving soon to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap has begun.

Track Information

There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft informs us.

Final Moments

The countdown has begun.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.

The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.

The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.