Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
The author is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
