Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
