Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Philip is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
