Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Period
The starting lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
