Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Philip is about to begin to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result 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 Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
