Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
The author is about to begin to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: 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 the previous day. Ferrari 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 Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
