Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage

Opening Notes

Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap has begun.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.

Countdown

The countdown has begun.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.

Media Conversations

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

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.

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

Driver Comments

"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.