Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
The author is about to begin to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.