Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage

Introduction

The author is arriving soon to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Warm-Up Lap Time

The formation lap is underway.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.

Countdown

The last moments has begun.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward 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: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.