Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is arriving soon to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
