Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Introduction
Philip is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
