Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Introduction
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states 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 dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
