Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
