Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
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 grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience 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 drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.