Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
