Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
