Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
