Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
