Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates
Introduction
Philip is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Real-Time Updates
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Interview Updates
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars 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 grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.
Constructors' Championship
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.
Sprint Race Value
Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.