Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
The author is about to begin to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead 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 Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
