Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
The author will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
