Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states 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 run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
