🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage Opening Notes The author is arriving soon to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Current Events Warm-Up Lap Period The starting lap has begun. Circuit Details We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft points out. Countdown The countdown is underway. Racer Positions An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man. Media Conversations Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role. Starting Positions There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying 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 Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season. Max Verstappen wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.