Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage

Introduction

Philip will be here shortly to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Current Events

Warm-Up Lap Time

The warm-up lap has begun.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out.

Countdown

The final countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.