Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage

Opening Notes

Philip will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Current Events

Starting Lap Time

The starting lap has begun.

Circuit Details

We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out.

Final Moments

The countdown is on.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver 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: the analyst is with Mercedes.

The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.

Starting Positions

There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team 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 Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Previous Results

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

Sprint Race Value

Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.