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

Introduction

The author will be here shortly to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Live Feed

Warm-Up Lap Period

The formation lap has started.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.