Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
