Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Period
The warm-up lap is underway.
Track Information
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint 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 only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
