Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
