Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing 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
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
