Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated 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. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
