🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Preamble Philip is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Live Feed Starting Lap Period The warm-up lap is underway. Track Information We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator reminds us. Countdown The last moments is on. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Starting Positions There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that. Team Standings It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season. Max Verstappen wins the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.