Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Warm-Up Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is on.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying 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 failed to make it out of Q1 once more 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 pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with 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. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
