🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Introduction Philip will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Current Events Formation Lap Period The starting lap has started. Track Information We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out. Final Moments The last moments has begun. Driver Situation An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal. Starting Positions There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that. Team Standings It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Previous Results Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago. The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.