Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
