Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till 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 own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship following PĂ©rez crashes out of the short race.
