Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
Philip will be here shortly to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
