Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect 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, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
