Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Philip is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage 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 starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
