Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates

Opening Notes

Our correspondent is about to begin to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The starting lap is underway.

Circuit Details

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator informs us.

Countdown

The final countdown is underway.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Team Standings

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.