Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
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 the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
