Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates

Opening Notes

Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The formation lap has begun.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The final countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.

Grid Details

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.