Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
The author is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft points out.
Final Moments
The countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be 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 during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.