🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage Opening Notes Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Live Feed Starting Lap Time The formation lap is underway. Circuit Details There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us. Countdown The final countdown has begun. Racer Positions One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal. Grid Details Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Past Performance Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago. Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.