Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Time
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments has begun.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, 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.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
