Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
