Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Philip is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
