Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 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 the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
