Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates

Opening Notes

Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Starting Lap Time

The starting lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out.

Countdown

The final countdown is on.

Driver Situation

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.

Starting Positions

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.