Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
