Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
The author is arriving soon to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
