Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
