Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
The author will be here shortly to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles 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 grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
