Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
