Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage

Introduction

Philip will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Warm-Up Lap Time

The formation lap has begun.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The final countdown has begun.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says 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 their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient 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.