Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Preamble
The author will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Time
The warm-up lap has started.
Track Information
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage 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 lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be 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 forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.
The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
