🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage Opening Notes Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Time The starting lap has begun. Circuit Details We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us. Countdown The last moments has begun. Racer Positions One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal. Grid Details Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Previous Results Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.