Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates
Introduction
The author is arriving soon to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.