Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage

Introduction

Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Starting Lap Time

The warm-up lap is underway.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.

Final Moments

The final countdown is on.

Driver Situation

One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

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

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed 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 pit lane.

The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Previous Results

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

Short Race Importance

Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

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