🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage Opening Notes Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Current Events Formation Lap Period The starting lap is underway. Circuit Details We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out. Final Moments The last moments has begun. Driver Situation An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man. Media Conversations Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role. Grid Details There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We'll use the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after 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 Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season. Max Verstappen wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.