🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates Preamble Philip is about to begin to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Live Feed Warm-Up Lap Time The starting lap is underway. Circuit Details We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us. Countdown The last moments is underway. Racer Positions One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role. Grid Details Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We take the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: 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 during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Past Performance Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Alright, just over twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago. Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.