Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
