Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage

Preamble

The author is about to begin to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Time

The starting lap has begun.

Circuit Details

We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The last moments is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
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Matthew Dean

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