Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates

Preamble

The author will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Warm-Up Lap Period

The formation lap has started.

Track Information

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator reminds us.

Final Moments

The final countdown is underway.

Driver Situation

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Grid Details

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

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

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

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

Short Race Importance

Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.

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