🔗 Share this article Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Opening Notes The author is arriving soon to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Live Feed Starting Lap Period The starting lap is underway. Circuit Details We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us. Countdown The countdown is underway. Racer Positions An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role. Grid Details Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Previous Results Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season. The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.