Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
