🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage Opening Notes The author will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Period The formation lap is underway. Circuit Details We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us. Countdown The last moments is on. Driver Situation An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey 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 Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We'll use the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: 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 second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago. Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.