Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The last moments is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again 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 Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
