Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Introduction
The author will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team 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 pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
