Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship 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 wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.