🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates Preamble The author is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Live Feed Starting Lap Period The formation lap is underway. Track Information We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us. Countdown The last moments is on. Driver Situation An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man. Media Conversations Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal. Starting Positions Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, 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. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.