Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. 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 did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
