Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author is about to begin to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap is underway.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi 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 third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
