Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.