Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The warm-up lap has started.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is underway.
Racer Positions
One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
