Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Philip is about to begin to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result 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'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place 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 managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
