Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap is underway.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
