Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins the championship following PĂ©rez crashes out of the short race.
