Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author is arriving soon to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
