Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage

Opening Notes

Philip is about to begin to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Formation Lap Time

The warm-up lap has started.

Track Information

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The last moments has begun.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team 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 Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen wins the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.