Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
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 tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
