Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author will be here shortly to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.