Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage

Introduction

Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Current Events

Starting Lap Time

The warm-up lap has started.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft informs us.

Final Moments

The last moments is on.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.

Media Conversations

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

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.

Grid Details

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

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

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

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 what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.