🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Preamble Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Current Events Starting Lap Period The starting lap is underway. Circuit Details We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator informs us. Countdown The final countdown has begun. Racer Positions One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role. Grid Details Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: 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 the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Previous Results Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago. Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.