Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.