Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage

Introduction

Philip is about to begin to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Current Events

Warm-Up Lap Period

The warm-up lap is underway.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.

Countdown

The last moments is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.