🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates Opening Notes Philip is arriving soon to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Period The warm-up lap has started. Track Information There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator points out. Final Moments The last moments has begun. Racer Positions An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man. Interview Updates Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal. Grid Details Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Previous Results Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season. Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.