Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
The author will be here shortly to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states 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 the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day β as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
