Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates

Opening Notes

The author will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap has begun.

Circuit Details

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

Final Moments

The countdown is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

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

Team Standings

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

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

Short Race Importance

Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.