Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
Philip is arriving soon to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Warm-Up Lap Time
The starting lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator reminds us.
Final Moments
The last moments is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari 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 Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.