Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Philip is about to begin to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Countdown
The last moments has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
