Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap is underway.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
