Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
