🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates Opening Notes Philip is arriving soon to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Time The warm-up lap has started. Track Information There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us. Final Moments The last moments is on. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Grid Details Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that. Team Standings It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Past Performance Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till 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 own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago. The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.