Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again 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 Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
