Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
