Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. 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. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
