Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again 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 duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
