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

Opening Notes

The author is about to begin to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Starting Lap Time

The warm-up lap has begun.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.

Countdown

The countdown has begun.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

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

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.

Max Verstappen wins the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.