Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Opening Notes
Philip is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
