Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is about to begin to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.
