🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates Preamble The author is about to begin to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Real-Time Updates Formation Lap Time The starting lap has started. Track Information There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us. Final Moments The countdown 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 challenge Red Bull's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal. Grid Details Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari 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 starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Past Performance Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season. Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.