🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Updates Opening Notes Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Live Feed Warm-Up Lap Time The warm-up lap is underway. Track Information We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft informs us. Countdown The final countdown is underway. Racer Positions An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal. Grid Details There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season. Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.