Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
The author is about to begin to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration 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'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
