🔗 Share this article Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates Opening Notes The author is about to begin to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Current Events Formation Lap Period The starting lap is underway. Track Information We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator reminds us. Final Moments The final countdown has begun. Racer Positions An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal. Starting Positions Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We'll use the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: 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 this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Past Performance Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago. The driver wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.