Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Philip is arriving soon to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong 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 the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
