Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Starting Lap Period
The formation lap has started.
Track Information
There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator points out.
Final Moments
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Constructors' Championship
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Previous Results
Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.
