Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
