🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage Introduction Philip is arriving soon to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Current Events Formation Lap Time The warm-up lap has begun. Track Information We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us. Final Moments The countdown is underway. Driver Situation One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Grid Details There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that. Team Standings It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, 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 the leader. Previous Results Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.