🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates Opening Notes Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Live Feed Warm-Up Lap Time The warm-up lap has started. Track Information There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator reminds us. Countdown The final countdown has begun. Racer Positions One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man. Media Conversations Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role. Starting Positions There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area. The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Past Performance Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago. The driver wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.