🔗 Share this article Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Introduction Our correspondent will be here shortly to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Current Events Formation Lap Period The formation lap has begun. Circuit Details There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us. Countdown The last moments is underway. Driver Situation An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role. Starting Positions Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We'll use the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning. Team Standings It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Past Performance Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season. Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.