Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.