Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
