Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates

Preamble

Philip is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Starting Lap Time

The formation lap has begun.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The final countdown is on.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.

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

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.

The driver wins the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.