Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Introduction
Philip is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: 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 now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his setup 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 the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
