🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Opening Notes Philip will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Live Feed Formation Lap Time The formation lap has begun. Track Information There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft points out. Countdown The last moments is on. Driver Situation An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role. Starting Positions There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that. Team Standings It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Past Performance Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season. Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.