Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was 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 did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
