Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Philip is about to begin to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: 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
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's 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 Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight 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 wins the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
