Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Introduction
Philip is about to begin to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
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 lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. 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 Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
