🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates Preamble The author is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Live Feed Formation Lap Time The starting lap is underway. Track Information There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out. Final Moments The countdown has begun. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man. Interview Updates Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role. Grid Details There are only sixteen vehicles 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-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago. Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.