Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect 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 their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
