🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates Preamble The author is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Time The formation lap has started. Track Information We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator informs us. Countdown The countdown is on. Driver Situation An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal. Grid Details Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team 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 Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Previous Results Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season. The driver wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.