Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
The author is about to begin to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
