Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal 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 attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following PĂ©rez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
