Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author is arriving soon to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. 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 their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
