Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage
Opening Notes
Philip is about to begin to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
Live Feed
Formation Lap Period
The formation lap has begun.
Circuit Details
There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.
Final Moments
The countdown is on.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst 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.
Grid Details
Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Previous Results
Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.
Short Race Importance
Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.
The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.
