🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates Opening Notes Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Current Events Formation Lap Period The starting lap has begun. Track Information We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator informs us. Final Moments The countdown is on. Racer Positions An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes. The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role. Starting Positions There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying 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 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that. Team Standings It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Past Performance Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season. Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.