Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
