🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage Opening Notes Philip is arriving soon to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Current Events Formation Lap Time The formation lap has started. Circuit Details We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out. Final Moments The final countdown has begun. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man. Media Conversations Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role. Starting Positions Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We'll use the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season. The driver wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.