🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage Opening Notes The author will be here shortly to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Live Feed Formation Lap Period The warm-up lap is underway. Circuit Details There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out. Countdown The last moments is on. Racer Positions An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal. Starting Positions Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane. The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Past Performance Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago. Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.