Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
