Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
The author will be here shortly to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes 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 experience for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
