Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
