Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
The author is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently 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 Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: 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 this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
