Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team 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 Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.