🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage Preamble Philip is arriving soon to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Current Events Formation Lap Time The warm-up lap has begun. Track Information We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out. Final Moments The last moments is on. Driver Situation An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal. Grid Details Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We take the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Past Performance Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Alright, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago. The driver wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.