Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack 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 forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
