Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
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, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
