Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage

Opening Notes

Philip is about to begin to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Period

The starting lap is underway.

Track Information

There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out.

Final Moments

The countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result 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 Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

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

Team Standings

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.