Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer 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: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 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 just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
