Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Opening Notes
Philip is arriving soon to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
