Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
