🔗 Share this article Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Preamble Philip is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Live Feed Formation Lap Time The starting lap has begun. Circuit Details There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out. Countdown The last moments is on. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal. Starting Positions Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning. Team Standings It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season. Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.