Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The warm-up lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.