Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance 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," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
