Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage
Introduction
Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has begun.
Track Information
We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown has begun.
Driver Situation
One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.
Grid Details
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
