Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
