๐ Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates Opening Notes Philip will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Current Events Starting Lap Time The starting lap has begun. Circuit Details We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us. Countdown The countdown is underway. Driver Situation One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal. Grid Details Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then โ as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.