Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
