Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author is arriving soon to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed 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 advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
