🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage Preamble Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Current Events Formation Lap Time The starting lap has begun. Track Information We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us. Countdown The countdown is on. Racer Positions One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Starting Positions There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season. The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.