Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage

Opening Notes

The author will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The formation lap has started.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The last moments is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

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

Racer Statements

"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Previous Results

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

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.

Max Verstappen wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.