Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
