Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage

Preamble

Philip is arriving soon to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap is underway.

Track Information

There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

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

Racer Statements

"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.