Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates
Introduction
The author is arriving soon to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).
Current Events
Formation Lap Time
The warm-up lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us.
Final Moments
The final countdown is underway.
Driver Situation
An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Grid Details
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result 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 Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. 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 only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.
